Island Signatures Magazine 12 - Quarantine Edition by island Signatures

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

CONTENTS

Editor’s note 6 contributors 8 pOEM- DE STINE ALIY AH 10 feature- NI K ITA”K ARMA” W A RRING TON - Shanice Jordan 16 the new normal - ISLAND SIGNATURES 20 oN THE FRONTLINE - Ms. K i m b e r ley C um b e r b a tch 24 M I X E D SIG NAL - BY : NUTRIOLO G Y: T H E H E A LT H BOX 26 Mental Health - K HRY STAL W A LCOTT 29 pARTNERSHIP WITH CARIBBEAN MEDIA CORPORATION (CMC) 30 culinary fEATURES BY- EXE CUTIV E C H E F RUDI M I LLE R

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

32 MIXOLOGIST- MEL V IN FORBE S 34 B la c k Live s Matter - SI MON E E LLIOTT 40 Mental Health, COVID, Kids and Coping This 2020! - KA TRINA LEWIS M S W 44 G u i dan c e o n the National Ec o n o mic Re starting Plan for t he Barbadian context Pr of.D WAYNE DEV ONISH 48 STA YIN G IN VISIBL E WIL L DO NOT HIN G FOR Y OUR BUSIN ESS DE BBI E - ANN JOLLIE M B A, BS c , BA 58 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTs

P hoto b y L a ur en O n e a l

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

EDITOR’S NOTE

elc o m e to I s l a n d S i g n a t u re s’ secon d p ubl i c a ti o n f o r 2020 - “ T h e Q u aranti ne E d i ti o n ” . T h i s y e a r h a s brou g h t a bo ut c h a n g e s t h ro u g h o u t t he world whi c h e nc o u r a g e d g re a t i n t rosp ection a nd i nno v a t i o n . I h a v e n o ti c e d t hat two thi ngs h a p p e n w h e n y o u l iv e through a n e r a o f r a p i d c h a n g e, as we are no w. F i r st l y, t h e re i s a n in evitab le s ur ge o f a r t i st i c c re a t i v it y an d s e c o nd th e mi sf i t s , t h e c o n t ra rians , the und e r d o g s a n d t h e a n ti h eroes c o m e i nto t h e i r o w n . We w i t ne s s t he rise o f the re b e l : t h o se w h o d on’t p lay by the no r m a l r u l e s , w h o f l o u rish in cha o ti c , unp re d i c t a b l e t i me s and welcom e unc e r ta i n t y w i t h o u t f e a r. We at I sland S i gna tu re s a re i n sp i re d b y t he voic e s o f the p e o p l e , mo re sp e c i fically, o f the m ul t i t u d e o f v o i c e s t hat are conta i ne d b y o u r re a d e r s. We st ri v e t o mainta i n the s t a n d a r d w h i l s t se ek i ng ways to e nte r ta i n a n d c a p t i v a t e y o u - ou r rea d e r s . Ad d i t i o n a l l y, y o u ma y n o t ice a fe w c ha n g e s i n o u r e d i t i o n , h o wever, w e e nc o u r a g e y o u t o re mai n l oyal rea de r s a nd w e l c o me t h e c h a n ge s t o c ome . We h ave m a de a b o l d e r, b r a v e r ma g az ine to a c c o m m o d a t e t h e se n e w t i me s an d g ive the s e i m p o r t a n t , v a r i e d n e w v oices a pla c e to t a l k a b o u t w h o t he y are and w ha t the y s t a n d f o r. I a m in credib l y pro ud o f w h a t t h e I sl a n d Signature s te a m h a s c re a t e d o n t h e p ag es th a t fo l l o w. F ro m o u r i n t e r v i e w wit h Kar m a (p. 1 0), B l a c k Li v e s M a tt e r by Sim one E l l i o tt ( p . 34) t o P ro f e s sor Dwayne D e vo ni s h ’s p i e c e Gu i d a n c e on t he Nati o na l E c o n o mi c Re st a r t i n g P l an

fo r t he Barb adi an Co nt e x t (p . 4 4 ), we hav e hi ghl i ght e d i ns p i ri ng p e ople wh o I hop e wi l l p rov o k e s t i m ul at i ng debates. I t fe l t l i k e b e i ng o n t he l aunc h of a ne w m agazi ne , and i t fe l t s p e cial to b e gi v i ng e v e ry p age s uc h l e ng th y care and at t e nt i o n. I n t he are a of we l l ne s s , c om b atin g c hro ni c , non-c om m uni c ab l e di seases (N CDs ) i s t he foc us i n N ut ri ol o gy: T h e He al t h Box and M e nt al He al t h takes c e nt re wi t h Khy s t al Wal c o t t . Wh eth er i t ’s b e c o m i ng m ore ac t i v e or adoptin g a he al t hi e r di e t , w e offe r t i p s on h ow th e Cari b b e an re gi on c an de al w i t h th ese i s s ue s duri ng t he s e di ffi c ul t COVID19 t i m e s .A nd i n our Cul i nary section , E x e c ut i v e Che f R udi M i l l e r s ha res h is re c i p e fo r yum m y Sp aghe t t i Bologn ese and m i x ol o gi s t M e l v i n Forb e s tells h ow t o m ak e ‘Sl e e p l e s s N i ght s ’ a s ure drin k t o b ri ng ab out hap p y t i m e s . Wri t e p o e t ry ? I s l and Si gnat ures is fo r you! Hav e a ho t t ak e on a cu rren t i s s ue ? I s l and Si gnat ure s ! I nt e restin g c arni v al j ourne ys ? I s l and Si gnatu res! W hat e v e r i t m ay b e , w e ho p e you fin d y our c re at i v e (or s e ri ous ) ni c he with us . So no w i t ’s ov e r t o you. W h at do y ou t hi nk o f our ne w l o ok ? W hat do you l i k e and what i s m i s s i ng? Le t us kn ow o n s oc i al m e di a @I SLA N DSI GN AT URES or e m ai l i s l ands i gnat ure s @gm ai l .com an d w e ’ l l s e e what we c an de l i v e r in ou r fo rt hc om i ng i s s ue s .

Ed i t o r’s N o t e : D a m i e n Por te r

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

CONTRIBUTORS Justin Ellis Publisher

D a m i en Po r t e r Chief Editor

Shanice Jordan Writer

Debbie-Ann Jollie M BA, BS c,

Writer

S i mone E l l i ot t Writer

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

K a t r i na L e wi s Writer

Kh r ystal Wa lcott Writer

P ro f . D w a yne Devonish Writer

Res pira to r y T h e r a pi s t Mr s . Kim b e r l e y C u mbe rbatc h Writer

O ther C o n tri b u t or s : C ar ib Vis io n , Caribbe an Me dia Co rpo rat ion (CMC) ,De st ine Aliyah, Cather i ne B uccel l o,N i k i ta W a r r i n g t o n ,

N ut r i olo gy: The Health Box,E x ecuti v e C hef R ud i M i l l er , M i x olo gist M elvin Forbes , La ur en O nea l

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

Black Woman

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

ADVERTISE WITH US

Island-Signatures IslandSignatures

i s landsignatu resca rib@gma il. c o m

N ik ita “K ar ma” War r ingto n 1 Co r int hia ns 16:14 “D o ever y th in g in l ove.”

Written By: Shanice Jordan

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

The Life of a Caribbean A rt ist e – K ar ma N i ki ta Warring to n, o th er w i s e k n o w n a s ‘ Ka rm a ’ i s a Ca r ib b e an M usi c ian. Bo r n i n the i s l an d o f D o m i n i c a , ra i s e d i n A n tigu a, and curre nt ly resi di ng i n t h e i s l a n d o f B a rb a d o s , t h i s son gs t ress is st ampi n g h er s pot i n t h e m u s i c a l w o rl d . A s a fir m bel i eve r in t h e tal en ts th a t C a ri b b e a n p e o p l e h a ve t o offe r t he wo rld , t hi s ar ti ste has i n ve s t e d a l o t o f t i m e a n d e n e r gy into build ing her musi c al c a re e r w h i l e fo c u s i n g o n h e r ow n busy pe rson al l i f e. Ni ki ta h a s c u rre n t l y d e vo t e d h e rs e lf in to t he to urism i n dustr y o f B a rb a d o s m a rk e t e d a s ‘ Th e Ge m of th e C a r i bbe an Sea’, w h ere s h e h a s re c e n t l y b e e n re w a rd e d for h e r inv ol v e me nt as a c o m m i tte e m e m b e r o f t h e B a rb a d o s H ote l and To urism As s o c i ati o n You t h L e a d e rs fo r 2020- 2021.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

Q & A WIT H

K ar ma IS : C a n y o u t e l l o u r vi e w e rs wh o is Ka r m a ? k:Karma i s C a r i b b e an H i p Hop A rt ist a n d so n g w ri te r! IS : Te ll u s w h a t i s a l i f e quo t e t ha t y o u l i ve by? K: Now wo u l d b e a gre at t im e t o sa y, “ W h a t go e s aro und , c o m e s a ro und,” right ? Lo l . B u t n o ! 1 Co rint hian s 16:14 “ D o ev e ry t hin g i n l o ve . ” IS : In a f e w w o r ds g i ve us an id ea w h a t a da y o f the lif e of Ni k i t a wo u l d be ? K: I w a ke , I g i ve t h ank s . Th e re’s a l m o st n e ver bre ak fa s t ! I lo ve b re a k f a s t f o o d, just not a t B re a k f a st Ti me ! I tr y t o e x e rc i se e a r l y i n t he m orn i n g , b u t i f t hat do es not h a p p e n , I do i t in t he e ve n i n g . I wo rk i n t he Touri sm I n du st r y, s o it i s off t o wo r k t o i nte rac t w it h g u e st s a n d c o l leag ue s . H o p e f u l l y, t he re ’s sport s ha p p e n i n g , and I am pe e pi n g t h e sc ore s and ca tching a b i t o f i t duri ng t he s hift o r a f t e r ! A f te r t hat , it s t h e n b a c k ho me t o re grou p f o r t h e fo l l o w ing d a y i f t h e re i s no s t udi o invol v ed !

I S: Be s i de s music what are (3) o t he r interesting thing s yo u l o ve . K : Spo rt s like Cr icket and Fo o tbal l ! A ny thing else can c o me af t e r that ...Food! Sus hi i s my absolute fav ouri te ! But, I also just lov e to c o o k and I ’m alway s doing s o me thi ng in the kitchen. N e x t i s The Beach! Best pl ac e t o think; to wr ite; to re l ax ; to u nwind. So g r atef ul f o r e as y access to sun, s e a and s and! I S: H o w does y our musical l i f e di ff e r from y our pers o nal l i f e ? k :O ve r the y ear s I hav e be c o me more of daily self i n my music. At fir st my raps w e re v er y ser ious and s truc ture d, and so was I, go i ng thro ug h Univ er sity and af te r. More recently s i nc e I am in a more comf o rtabl e place, where I have a l i tt le fun and I am mo re c are free, it shows as w e l l . I believ e music s ho ul d be a constant reflecti o n o f w h at the wor ld is go i ng thro ug h and what it ne e ds . Therefore, both my mus i c i an self and my pers o nal s e l f should alway s be al i gne d.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

I S : I f yo u r f ri e nds had t o de s c r ibe y ou in 3 wo r ds ho w w o ul d the y de s c ribe y our p e r so n a l i ty.

IS: How has y our exper ien c e b een tr av eling and per for ming f o r a n i n ternational crowd?

K : S t u b b o r n! O ut go i ng. Lo vi ng!

k:People LOVE E E E E E E E Car ib b ea n sty le! Lov e our dialect, love o u r r hy thm. It is alway s a g rea t rec ep tion. War m and g roov y ! Alw a y s creates more oppor tunities to networ k and recor d. We are s o ta l ented and blessed with th i s c u l tu re.

I S : H o w w as the name K arma c h osen to b e yo u r st age name ? k :M y m i dd l e name i s K ari ma. I t was not a f a r st re tc h, and I t rul y be l i e ve in the do c t r i n e that i s K arma. So … drop the “ i” a n d B AM ! Pe rf e c t . I S : W h o o r w hat i ns pi re d yo u t o be an a r t i st e ? k :I w a s a lw ays a w ri t e r, mo re f ocused o n t h a t t han re c o rdi ng o r pe rf or ming . I w i l l a l w a y s gi ve c re di t t o Tri pl e E Studios f o r l e t t i n g me t ry my ve ry f i rs t r ap. That i s wh a t real l y made me c ro s s o v er into a r t i st r y.

IS: Seen y ou hav e a few m u s i c a l v ideos from the past can w e ex p ec t more v ideos to come in th e n ea r future? k:Post COVID1 9 , it is more mu s i c , m o re v ideos, more ar tistr y ! IS:Any interest in musical colla b s regi o n ally or inter nationally ?

I S : W hat are yo ur f avo uri te music g e n res ?

k:Reg ionally, I think Skinny Fa b u l o u s would kill any tr ack and I wou l d b e s u p er excited to wor k with him!

k :H i p H o p,Re ggae & D a n c ehal l ,R&B,So c a

IS: Hav e y ou had any reg rets a b o u t y o u r musical career ?

I S : W hat are s o me o f yo ur proude st m o me nts abo ut be i ng an a r t i ste ?

k:That there are not str uctures i n p l a c e that suppor t music in the Car i b b ea n th a t is not soca. It is costly to dev el o p a s a n ar tist in another g enre based o n th a t, and instead of spending time a n d en er gy creating music, y ou spend it t r y i n g to create the oppor tunity to g et th a t o u t there. It becomes fr ustr ating , n o t h a v i n g a cer tain ty pe of suppor t, so I ev en tu a l l y shifted my main focus elsewh ere. B u t in tr uth, if y ou lov e music, y ou a l w a y s come back to it.

k :Pe r f o rmi ng at H o ne y Jam concer ts h e re i n Barbado s ! Trul y a great platf o r m fo r f e mal e art i s te s . Wr iting in c a m p s w i th i nte rnati o nal producer s w h e n I w as w ay to o yo ung to underst a n d ho w mu vvvc h o f an oppor tun i t y was pre s e nte d to me ! Forev er g r a t e f ul .

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

IS : If y o u h a d t h e po w e r to c ho o s e w hat would y ou do d iffere n t l y. k: J us t f o c u s, g r i t , f i ght, and ge t i t do n e. Ig nore nay say er s. Pus h a g a i n st t h e l ac k o f s truc ture . And just g et it done! IS : A re t h e re a n y o t he r i nte re s ti ng t hi n g s y our g ood at be s id e s y o u r si n gi ng abi l i t i e s ? k: C oo k i n g !!!! G row i ng pl ants and a bit of modelling ev er y now a n d t h e n . IS : We a l l k n o w thi s w o rl d has be e n s h ook because of the coronavi r u s, t h e re f o re , t e l l us as an ar tiste how are y ou coping w i t h t h i s ne w w ay o f l i vi ng. k: It is a st r a n g e ti me t o be l i vi ng i n, howev er â&#x20AC;Ś g reat thing s a re bo r n e o u t o f t he s e t i me s . I us e t his time to really g et int o s o m e w r i t i n g and me l o dy c re ati o n. Liaise with producers a n d g e t re a dy t o hi t t he gro und ru nning ! IS : W h a t m e ssa g e w o ul d yo u pas s o n to next g ener ation w ho ha ve a n i n t ere s t i n the mus i c al and per for ming ar ts. k: A s I sa i d b e f o re, j us t ge t i t do ne . Just g o do what y ou nee d t o do . Do no t w ai t f o r anyo ne , do not doubt y our self. Be lie ve i n wh o yo u are and w hat yo u want from y our self. G iv e t h a n k s da i l y f o r the gi f t t hat yo u hav e and g o g et it d one ! IS : K in dl y t e l l o u r re ade rs w hat i s ne x t for Kar ma? k: D rop a si n g l e , ge t ano t he r I s l and Si gnatures feature (l a ugh s) , h o p e f u l l y ge t t hat t rac k w i t h the Great Skinny, a nd k e e p o n do i ng e ve rythi ng i n l o ve !

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

The New Nor mal Wr i t t en B y : Isla nd S igna t ures

any fa c to r s s u c h a s re s t r i c t e d access to fi na nc i a l p ro d u c t s a n d t r ai nin g, limi t the gro w t h o f b u s i n e s s wi t hi n t he C ar i b b e a n. H o w e v e r, t h e s e c o n s t r aints ha ve no t d e t e r re d t h e e me rgence o f e ntre pre n e u r s , w i t h 81% of workin g- a ge Ja m a i c a n s a g re e i n g t h at en trep re ne ur s hi p i s a d e s i r a b l e c a re e r ch oice ( G . Bo o d r a j , V. S k e e t e , M . B o we n & O. Re i d 2 0 1 1 * Gl o b a l E n t re p re n e urshi p M o nitor, 2 0 1 1 ) . En trep re ne ur s a re w e l c o me d r i s k t a kers, w ho ha ve ma d e c o n s i d e r a bl e contribu ti o ns to t h e e c o n o mi c g ro wt h an d the s o c i a l fa b r i c i n ma n y C a r i b b e an is lan ds b y b e i ng t h e d r i v e r s o f j o b creations .

m any doors b e i ng c l o se d for several we e k s, c ausi ng m ai n st re am s of in come t o hal t . One suc h e nt re p re ne ur i s Shern elle Trot m an, t he sol e p rop ri e t or of “J ’n elles House o f Be aut y” l o c at e d i n t h e pict ure sq ue p ari sh of St . Jo hn, B arbados. She rne l l e l aunc he d he r b usi ness in 2014, l e av i ng a re gul ar 9 t o 5 job, to p ursue a c are e r i n an are a fo r wh ich she p o sse sse d t he ne c e ssary skills an d t rai ni ng.

A s w i t h m ost e st ab l i she d e nt reprene urs, She rne l l e ’s v i si o n fo r 2 0 2 0 was v e ry p osi t i v e wi t h hop e s of e n h an ci ng he r sal on w i t h re no v at i o n s an d i m p ro v e m e nt s wi t h he r se rv i c e delive ry. Re nov at i o ns w hi c h she hoped, With CO V I D- 1 9 d i s r u p t i n g t h e e c o n o m i e s woul d augm e nt e ac h c ust o m e r ’s experit hrou g h o ut the re g i o n a n d s i g n i f i c ant l y e nc e and l e ad t o som e st e ady cu stomer retardin g i nd i vi d u a l e x p e n d i t u re o n gro wt h and re t e nt i on. “n on-es s e nti a l ” p u rc h a s e s , mo re t han likely, the s m a l l b u s i n e s s e n t e r p r i se s Si m i l ar t o a p oor dye j o b , t hi n gs looked op eratin g i n s o me s e c t o r s b e c a me si gq ui t e di ffe re nt as t he i sl and wen t in to n ificantly a ffe c te d . T h e s t a t e ma n d at e d l o c k down. He r p e rsp e c t i v e o n th e plan s lockdow ns thro ug h o u t t h e re g i o n , saw for he r b usi ne ss c hange d drastically,

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

u s hering he r i nto u n c h a r t e re d t e r r it o ry. Sh e was unc e r ta i n a b o u t h e r f u t u re p lans f o r the bus i n e s s . D e s p i t e t h i s f ee lin g o f unc e r t a i n t y, t h i s d o w n t im e p roved to be a ‘ g l a s s h a l f - f u l l ’ mo me nt . Th e lock do w n pro v i d e d h e r w i t h l o t s o f t ime to e va l ua te a n d re f o c u s s e v e ral as pects o f he r b u s i n e s s , r a n g i n g f ro m s ervice de li ve r y t o c o mmu n i c a t i o n w i t h cu stom e r s ; bo th e x i s t i n g a n d p o t e n t i al . Th i s wa s ti m e to f o c u s o n h e r b u s i n e ss p ost-loc k do w n, i n s t e a d o f t h e n e g at i v e im pact o f thi s glo b a l p a n d e mi c . If th e p a nde m i c ma d e n o t h i n g e l s e ap p arent, i t e nc o u r a g e d t h e o w n e r of “J’n elles H o us e o f B e a u t y ” t o r a i s e t he bar. A s e nti me n t w h i c h w e c a n b e s u re ha s be e n s h a re d b y ma n y e n t re p ren eur s w ho e x p e r i e n c e d s i mi l a r fat e . Sh e n ee d e d to ut i l i z e mo re t e c h n o l o gy t o m ake he r b us i n e s s e ff i c i e n t , c o mp e t it ive and a c c e s s i b l e . As su ch , She r ne l l e t u r n e d t o s o c i a l m e dia p l a tfo r m s , revam pi ng he r In stag ram to b e mo re cu stom e r fr i e ndly, p rovide m o re i nf o rm a tion a nd be c o me m ore inte r a c ti ve . T h e s ole p ropr i e to r re c ognised tha t s he n ee ded to i nve s t i n a strate gi c m a r k e t i n g p lan. No t j us t a q u i c k s et ap pro a c h, bu t a n actu al p e n- to - pa p e r p lan, th a t w o ul d allow h e r c us to me r s t o know tha t de sp i t e wh at wa s ha ppe n i n g in th e p hy s i c a l e n v i ronm ent, he r b us i n e s s wou ld c o nti nue t o b e a n a c t i v e p a rt o f t he St. J o hn c o mmu n i t y i n t h e p o s t lockdow n pe r i o d .

A p art from m ark e t i ng and ut i l isin g t ool s fo r e ffi c i e nt ap p o i nt m e n t sch edul i ng and re sc he dul i ng, She rne l l e has i m p l e m e nt e d se v e ral sani t i zat i o n and hy gi e ne m e asure s t o e nsure t he safe t y of he r c ust o m e rs. I n p re p arat i o n fo r he r re -o p e ni ng, so c i al m e di a w as use d t o i nform t he c ust o mers of t he i r ro l e and re sp o nsi b i l i t i e s prior to and duri ng e ac h ap p oi nt m e nt . T h e addit i o nal sani t i zi ng p roc e sse s t hat wou ld b e unde rt ak e n duri ng e ac h appoin tmen t w e re hi ghl i ght e d, w i t h c ust o mers bein g not i fi e d t hat t he se measu res woul d b e m andat ory. The j o urne y for “J’n elle’s House o f Be aut y” to its c urre nt p osi t i o n as an e st ab l i she d b usi ness an d a fe at ure o f t he St. J oh n c om m uni t y, has not been wi t ho ut i t s c hal l e nges. The l o c k down, ho wever, has m ade i t ap p aren t th at t hi ngs c oul d no t , an d wou ld no t b e b usi ne ss as u su al, and t he t i m e t ak e n for re se arc h and ‘homework’ has l e ft t hi s b usi n ess own er fe e l i ng o p t i m i st i c abou t th e fut ure . She rne l l e un derst ands t hat i nno v ation wou ld ne e d t o b e i m p l e m e nt e d i f he r bu sin ess i s t o b e c om e re si l i e nt .

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

As this glo b a l pa n d e mi c w i l l l e a v e ap p ro x i m at e l y 305 m i l l i on w i t ho ut j o bs worldwide (IL O, 2 0 2 0 ) , s h e e n c o u r a g e s t h e woul d-b e e nt re p re ne urs t o m ak e t h eir e nterp ri s e a re a li t y. To c o mp l e t e t he ne c e ssary re se arc h so t hat so m e o f th e r is k s m a y b e l e s s e n e d , b u t t o b e re assure d t hat as no t e d w i t h COV I D-19 , n o on e c a n p rep a re fo r e v e r y e v e n t u a l i t y. Furt he rm o re , he r sal on i s b y no m e ans ready to c all i t a w r a p, b u t l o o k s f o r w a r d t o st rai ght e ni ng o ut t he k i nk s and tu rn in g u p the heat fo r the se c o n d ro u n d o f 20 20. E v e ry e ffo rt w i l l b e m ade b y t hi s bu sin ess owner to b ui l d a s u s t a i n a b l e v e n t u re w hi c h she ho p e s wi l l fo rm a v i t al part of a t h rivin g c o m m u n i t y, w h e re “ J ’ n e l l e ’s House o f Be aut y” wi l l b e i n p art n ersh ips, working i nd us tr i o u s l y t o a c h i e v e i t s go al s at e v e ry l e v e l . ▪ * s ource I L O Mo ni t o r : C O V I D - 19 a n d t he worl d o f work . 5t h

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

On The Frontline Wr i t t e n B y : Respira t ory T hera p i st Mr s. K i mb e r le y C u mb e r b atc h

n this c ur re nt p a n d e mi c e n v i ro n me nt , h ealth o ffi c i a ls ha v e b e e n p u t t o t h e tes t as C O VI D- 1 9 re a c h e d t h e C a r i b be an c a u sin g the re gi o n a l g o v e r n me n t s t o e nact va r i o us pa n d e mi c p l a n s t o c u rb the sprea d o f the d i s e a s e . O n t h e f ro nt l i ne n ext to D o c to r s a n d N u r s e s s t a n ds Res p irat o r y T he r ap i s t s ( RT ) a s t h i s v i rus wreaks h a vo c o n t h e re s p i r a t o r y s y st e m . M rs . Kim be r le y C u mb e r b a t c h i s o n e o f those RTs o n the f ro n t l i n e i n B a r b a do s c a rin g an d tre a ti n g t h o s e w h o h a v e been aff l i c te d w i t h t h e d i s e a s e . S h e h as 12 y e a r s s pe c i a l i z i n g i n t h i s p rof e s sion t ha t ha s b e c o me a s p o t l i g h t i n this pande m i c . K i mb e r l e y g r a d u a t e d f rom UWI w i th U pp e r 2n d c l a s s h o n ours i n C hem i s tr y w i th B i o l o g y a n d a f t e r o ne y e a r as a qua l i ty a s s u r a n c e t e c h n i c i an, sh e deci de d “ pure s c i e n c e w a s n o t t he f i eld f or m e be c a u s e i t l a c k e d t h e so c i al i nt e racti o n o f w o r k i n g w i t h p e o p l e . T h is tru l y m a d e me b e g i n t o e x p l o re m y o pt i ons fo r m y o th e r l o v e : h e a l t h c a re .”

n C arib b e a n s o c i e t y, t h e p o p u l a r o pt i ons a re to be c o me a d o c t o r o r a

nurse ; i t ’s w hat sc ho ol l e av e rs kn ow as av ai l ab l e c are e r c ho i c e s fo r t hose with a sc i e nt i fi c b ac k gro und. M y dream was al ways t o work i n sc i e nc e or in h ealth c are and m y de si re was t o he lp solve re al l i fe p rob l e m s p e op l e e x p erien ced.

i t h a hop e ful m i nd, I de c i ded to b ro ade n m y se arc h t o e x p l o re accredi t e d p ro gram s o v e rse as i n al l i ed h ealth p ro fe ssi o ns, whi c h o ffe re d p ost gradu at e st udi e s. I found t w o p ro grams th at c l ai m e d m y i nt e re st : Cardi ov ascu lar St udi e s and Re sp i rat o ry The rapy, n eith er of whi c h I had any c l ue what th ey e nt ai l e d. Ho we v e r, Re sp i rat o ry T h erapy t o ok t he e dge b e c ause I had fou n d a p ost graduat e p rogram w hi c h allowed m e t o adv anc e m y st udi e s.

n o rde r t o p ursue m y p assi o n s, I ap p l i e d for a M Sc . i n Re sp i ratory The rap y at Nort h East e rn Uni v ersity, Bo st o n, M A and USA . A t t he same t i m e I st i l l k e p t sc i e nc e as m y plan B, and I ap p l i e d for p ost graduate st udi e s i n Pharm ac e ut i c al Che mistry at Loughb oro ugh Uni v e rsi t y. Than kfu lly, I

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

w as f ortuna te to b e a c c e p t e d t o b o th p ro gram m e s a nd w a s n o w f a c e d w i t h th e deci s i o n o f w h i c h o n e d o I d o and how cou ld I po s s i b l y e v e n a ff o r d e i the r o p t i on . He nc e , I b e g a n t h e t e d i o u s t ask o f hu nting fo r s c h o l a r s h i p s a n d a f r i e nd sug g este d the O rganiz a ti o n o f A m e rican S ta te s , b u t the d e a dli ne w as almo s t due . H o nestly, w he n I sent in my a ppl i c at i on on the d eadlin e , I w a i te d p a t i ently no t e xp ectin g to he a r a p ositive re pl y. Fortu ne fa vo ur s th o se wi th a m b i tion bec a us e I w as a su c c e s s f u l recipi e nt o f a n OAS p o s tgr a duat e sch o la r s hi p to m y su r pr i s e a n d that m a d e m y d ecision fo r m e b et ween he a l thc are and s c i e nc e . I was so c o nfi d e n t o n my n e w pa th, th a t I q ui t m y j o b w it hout k no w i ng a n y f urthe r d et ails. I t w a s b old an d r i s k y !

c l i ni c al at t ac hm e nt s wi t h m an y repu tab l e ho sp i t al s i n t he Bo st o n hu b.

hi s i s whe n I had di sc o v e re d my n ew p assi o n i n Re sp i rat o ry The rap y, wh ich i s t he c are and m anage m e nt of respirat o ry di so rde rs man y of whi c h l i m i t t he ability to b re at he o n o ne’s own , re sul t i ng i n t he n eed for m e c hani c al v e n tilation . Re sp i rat o ry Therapy i nv o l v e s l ung f u n ct i on t e st i ng t o measu re t he c ap ac i t i e s of a person’s l ungs t o fu n ction as t he y sho ul d. T h ese t e st s he l p i n t he diagno si s o f di se ases su ch as A st hm a, Chron ic Ob st ruc t i v e Pulmon ary Di se ase , and i n terstitial l ung di se ase . Moreover, Re sp i rat o ry Therapy also i nv o l v e s sl e e p stu dies and t he t re at men t of sl e e p ap ne a. I was e nt hral l e d b y th e wealth of k no wl e dge an d skills t hat I l e arne d an d th e p ot e nt i al t o apply th em b ac k at hom e , wh ere I was b onde d t o retu rn . I wasn’t sure wh at opport uni t i e s we re a vailable i n Barb ados an d if I’d be ab l e t o use w h at I was p ri v i l e ge d t o l earn . T h e he O A S s c ho l a r s h i p c o v e re d j u s t w he e l s of c hange oft e n t urn v ery slowly o v e r thre e qua r te r s o f my t u i t i o n a n d I i n o ur c l assi c and c onse rv at i v e systems, a p plied fo r a s tud e n t l o a n t o c o v e r t he and I w as no t surp ri se d (t o fi nd wh en remain ing c o s t a n d l i v i n g e x p e n s e s , and I re t urne d) t hat t he re w e re no posiI w a s off to s tud y s o me t h i n g t h a t w as t i o ns fo r Re sp i rat o ry The rap i sts. T h e b ra nd n e w to m e ! T h e RT p ro g r a mme p rofe ssi o n w as e i t he r unk nown or on ly w a s a ve r y i ntr i gu i n g o n e i mme d i a t e l y he ard of b y a fe w. A n i ro ni c su rprise co mbin ing di d a c ti c a l c l a s s e s i n re s pi ra- w as t hat t he re we re p o si t i o ns availt ory p hy s i o lo gy an d t h e r a p e u t i c s w i t h ab l e for Cardi ac Te c hni c i ans so I en ded

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

up work i ng a s tr a i n e e o r a s s i s t a n t ca rdiac te c hni c i a n w h i c h o n l y re q u ire d a minim um o f C X C s , w h i l e I h a d j u st ret urned ho m e wi t h a M S c . H o w e v e r, t h is step i n m y li f e a l l o w e d me t o add new skil l s i n pe r f o r mi n g c a r d i a c t e st s l ike elec tro c a r d i o g r a ms a n d e c h o ca rdiog r a m s w hi c h a re u l t r a s o un ds o f the he a r t .

ventua l l y, I beg an to uti l i z e Resp irat o r y Th e rap y unti l f ut ure po s i ti o ns can be f a c i l it a ted. I believed the t w ist of m y experien c e s was to my advan ta ge , t hat is, ju s t as the h ea rt and l u ng s are con nect e d; I en ded up h a vin g a cardiopulmon a ry f ounda ti o n I h a d n o t c o n s i d e red.

resen tl y, the l a c k o f o p p o r t u n i t ies f or m y s pe c i a l t y l e d me t o s t a rt my own ho m e c a re b u s i n e s s , ‘ Li f e L u ng Re s pi r a to r y S e r v i c e s , ’ w h i c h prov id es ca re fo r pe r s o n s w h o l i v e w i t h b re ath ing d i s o r d e r s . I t t r u l y a ma z e d me the num b e r p e r s o n s w h o n e e d h e l p w it h th e the r a py r a n g i n g f ro m h o w t o us e th ei r i nha l e r s, t o n e e d i n g t o u se o x yg en at ho m e a n d e v e n ma n y p e op l e w ho h av e b e e n d i a g n o s e d w i t h s l e e p a p nea, w ho l i te r al l y s t o p b re a t h i n g a nu mber o f ti m e s d u r i n g t h e i r s l e e p ! I t ’s a v ery s c a r y thi ng t o h a v e t o b e f a c e d w it h su c h he a lth c h a l l e n g e s a n d n ot

unde rst and how t o use t he t reatmen ts y our do c t o r has p re sc ri b e d and n ot hav e anyone w ho c an he l p y ou . I h ave al so had c l i e nt s, who b e c ause of th eir unde rl yi ng m e di c al c o ndi t i ons are fu lly de p e nde nt on v e nt i l at o rs t o b reath e fo r t he m , and t he i r fam i l i e s n eed sup p ort at ho m e c ari ng fo r loved on es o n suc h se nsi t i v e and c omplex e q ui p m e nt .

he COV I D-19 p an demic b rought a l ot o f spotl i ght t o v e nt i l a tors as w e l l as Re sp i ratory The rap y worldwide. Thi s i nf ection w hi c h attacks t he respirat o ry system i nhi bits a p e rson ability t o b reath e p rop erly an d l o we rs oxygen l e v e ls below t he limits for n ormal b o dy fu n ct i on. Ven tilators are so m e t i m e s ne e de d t o sup port life whe n t he re sp i rat o ry syst e m fails, u n til your b o dy has o v e rc om e t he i n fect i on. COV I D-19 i s so i nfe c t i ous th at th e sl i ght e st unassum i ng t hi ng l i ke ru bbin g your nose or t o ughi ng your m ou th wi t ho ut p ri o r e ffe c t i v e hand h ygien e l e av e s you susc e p t i b l e t o c at ch in g t hi s v i rus. I t has l e ft al l our l ives with an e l e m e nt o f anx i e t y as we try to go ab out our dai l y ac t i v i t i e s b e i ng ever m o re c aut i ous t o p ro t e c t our respirat o ry syst e m . A s a he al t h c are professi o nal , i t b ri ngs an adde d p sych ologic al e ffe c t as t he j ob whi c h I l ove, also p l ac e s m e at a hi ghe r ri sk o f exposu re t o t hi s di se ase .

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

ith tha t be i ng s a i d , I s e e g re a t p ot e nt i al fo r t he fi e l d of Re sp i rat o ry T h erapy n o t on ly i n B a r ba d o s b u t t h ro u g h o u t t he Cari b b e an. The re are m any al l ied h ealth p rof essi o ns o ut t h e re t h a t a s me d i c i ne adv anc e s, sp e c i al t y c are b e c o m es more in deman d , a nd I ’d e n c o u r a g e p e o p l e l o ok i ng for av e nue s i n he al t hc are t o explore t he op ti o ns tha t e x i s t o u t s i d e o f t h e re gi on.

astly, I tr ul y e n j o y my w o r k a n d fe e l re w arde d whe n I c an he l p som e on e simply breathe e a s i e r. I t ’s s o me t h i n g w e ne v e r t hi nk ab o ut i t - j ust c om e s nat urally. As menti o ne d be f o re , t w e l v e y e a r s i nt o m y une x p e c t e d c are e r, I ’ v e gro wn as a p erson a nd a pro f e s s i o n a l a n d a l s o j uggl e m y p assi o n w i t h now al so b e in g a wife an d a m o the r to a 2 y e a r o l d s o n . I ’ m st i l l v e ry m uc h hop e ful of what my fu tu re h o lds and I ha ve n o i n t e n t i o n o f s t o p p i ng he re . The re i s st i l l m ore i n health care an d its e vo luti o n t h a t I d e s i re t o l e av e m y m ark o n!

ADVERTISE WITH US

MIXED S IG N AL S Written B y : N utr i ol o g y : T h e H e a l t h Box

h e re is n o do u b t t hat be i ng o n l o c k do wn c rea t ed a n e n vi ro n m e nt t hat l e d t o the s abo ta g e of m a n y we l l ne s s go al s w hi c h w e re u nde rw a y du r i n g t h e mo nt hs o f January and Febr ua ry. S o m e o f u s t o o k to bak i ng and experimen t i n g wi t h m a ny ne w re c i p e s to th e d el i g h t o f o u r f am ily m e m b e r s, b u t n ot s o m u c h o u r w a is t li n es. T he m e re a ro ma o f th es e de l i g h t s a n d th ei r d is p l a y, st i m u lat e d ou r de si re t o pa rta k e . O u r se n se o f smell, t h o se n e u rochem ical s a n d o u r b ra in w or k e d t o g e t h e r t o unne rve o ur re solv e. An d t he s e e x t r a sn ac k s and me al s c o upl ed with s ome b i n g e wa tc hi ng, and no i nc l i nati on t o e x e rc i se , l e d to s o me e x t ra po und s. My q ue s t i o n i s, we re tho s e e x tra me al s really pro mp t e d b y f e e l i n g s o f hunge r o r w as i t s om e t hing e l se ?

ne thing which infants and tod d l er s h a v e mastered but adults seem to str ug gl e w i th , is listening to our body â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeling s o f h u n ger and fullness. Unlike our y oung er co u n terpar ts, adults seem more in tune with ex ternal cues such as the pres en c e o f food, the presentation o f fo o d and its aroma. Think ab o u t i t. Th e mere fact that we place fr u i t i n a bowl on the kitchen c o u n ter o r the dinning table is not a m a tter of conv enience but it is m ea n t to encour ag e us to par take.

he lockdown per iod w a s a per iod of major adjustm en t w h i c h broug ht with it, its fair s h a re o f stress. This stress was manag ed at ti m es b y eating . Many of our clients will often d es c r i b e themselv es as stress eater s, and th e l o c kd o w n created the per fect env ironment for th i s ty p e of behav iour.

um e ro u s h o r m o ne s are t ri gge re d by stre s s a n d u n de r suc h c i rc ums tanc e s , i nd ividua l s m a y b e m o re pro ne t o partak e i n t he no t so h e a l t h f ul o pt i o ns , s uc h as h igh fa t , su g a r y f o o ds . Re s e arc h has ac tually s how n t h a n w h e n s t re s s l e ve l s are h ig h, th e s e t y p e s o f f o o ds appe ar mo re appe aling to some. A st a t e o f l o ng- t e rm s t re s s c an cause th e bod y t o re l e a se t he ho rmo ne c o rti s o l, whi ch inc re a se s a p p e t i te ; mak i ng the l o ckdow n a re c i p e f o r s t re s s e at i ng.

Finn i sh S t u dy suppo rt s t hi s the o ry. The d a ta col le c t e d su g g e s te d that o be s i ty w as a s s ocia t e d w i t h st res s - re l ate d e ati ng. I n additio n, high l e ve l s o f i ns ul i n i n pe rs o ns w h o a re ov erw e i g h t a l so mak e s w e i ght gai n m ore li ke l y.

hirs t c a n a l so se rve as an i mpo s ter of hu n g e r. T h e part o f the brai n w hi ch is re sp o n si b l e f o r hunge r i s act ua l l y a l so re sp o ns i ble for t h i r st . S o , i t s t ands to rea s on t h a t a t t i me s w he n w e t h i n k we need a sn a c k , we ma y a ct u a l l y need t o re a c h for a gla ss of wa t er i n s t ea d . I n s ho rt , y o u ma y be re c e i vi n g s om e m i x e d s igna l s . T h e thi ng is , we s ho ul d n’t o n l y rea ch for wa t e r wh e n w e fee l t h i r st y. Tr u th of the m a t t e r i s, t h e ma jorit y o f u s do n o t cons ume a de q u a t e amo unt s o f f l ui d thro ug hout t he da y, a n d b y t he ti me w e f e e l t hi rsty, w e a re a c t u a l l y a l ready mi l dl y de hydrated. C ons id er i n g t h a t o u r bo dy i s s i gni f i c antl y ma d e up o f w a t e r, we c an s e e ho w i mpo r tant

it is to stay on top of th i n gs when it comes to our fl u i d intake.

lthoug h lockdown m a y h a v e prov ided y ou with mo re ti m e to sleep, that late nigh t b i n ge watching may hav e al tered y o u r sleep patter n, resultin g i n l es s sleep. Lev els of the ho r m o n e th a t stimulate appetite can s u r ge i n per sons who hav e not h a d en o u gh snooze time. This sur g e, fa ti gu e and lower lev els of the h o r m o n e that sig nals fullness, can c a u s e y our body to cr av e car boh y d r a tes in those waking hour s, lead i n g to a hefty plate at breakfast tim e.

eal skipping may hav e s eem ed like a sound str ateg y to av oi d freq u en t super mar ket tr ips. This howev er, m a y hav e wor ked ag ainst y our wai s tl i n e. Skipping meals causes y our sto m a c h to be empty for long er per iods i n c rea s ing the hor mone which stimulates y o u r appetite. That being said, when y o u th en actually sit down to eat, y ou may b e m o re prone to eat lar g er por tions.We kn o w b y n o w that lar g er por tions can mean more c a l o r i es . So when we consume more calor ies th a n w e bur n, the result ov er time will be w ei gh t ga i n .

o, the next time y ou th i n k o f hav ing a meal before lu n c h ti m e o r dinner time, or that ext r a s n a c k, tr y to listen to y our bod y c a refu l l y to deter mine if indeed it i s th a t y ou are hung r y or wheth er o r n o t y ou are the v ictim of hu n ger fr a u d . Take this time to research s o m e healthful way s to destres s , s ta y on top of y our fluids, aim fo r ei gh t hour s of sleep and av oid meal skip p i n g. D o n ’t let the lockdown g et y ou off cour se, w e s ti l l hav e many more months to g o in 2 0 2 0 , a n d y our g oals are still v er y relev ant des p i te th e “ new nor mal.” ▪

M ental Health Wr i t t en B y :Khrysta l Wa lcot t

Si m p l y st at e d b y t he Wo rl d Health Organi sat i on, “M e nt al he al t h is a state of we l l -b e i ng i n w hi c h an i ndividual re al i ze s hi s or he r o wn abilities, c an c o p e wi t h t he norm al st resses of l i fe , c an work p ro duc t i v e l y an d is able t o m ak e a c o nt ri b ut i on t o hi s or h er c om m uni t y.”

O V I D- 1 9 ha s u n d e r mi n e d e v e ry expecta ti o n o f 2 0 20. T h e c e l e b r a t o r y s t a rt to the ne w d e c a d e w a s q u i c k l y t ra nsfor m e d i nto f e e l i n g s o f u n e a s e ju st by le a vi ng th e h o u s e . W h o w o u l d h a ve im a gi ne d th e e mp h a s i s w e w oul d p lace on w a s hi ng h a n d s a n d t h e n e we st f a shion s ta te m e n t o f w e a r i n g f a c e I n t he Cari b b e an, t he c onc e p t of men tal m asks? he al t h i s o ft e n fi x at e d on m e n tal disorde rs. Di re c t or of t he Jam ai ca Men tal It ’s no do ubt tha t C O V I D - 19 h a s t o uc he d He al t h A dv o c ac y N e t work Jani lle Brooks m an y as pe c ts o f o u r l i v e s b e c a u s e l i fe e x p l ai ne d, “Pe op l e st i l l t hi nk th at as we k ne w i t i s n o w a me mo r y. T h e m e nt al i l l ne ss m e ans ‘m ad’ , ‘crazy’ an d cu lture o f huggi n g u p , b e i n g i n e a c h ‘si c k he ad’ . Pe o p l e b e l i e v e t hat people ot her’s s pa c e , ‘ wi n i n g a n d d i n i n g ’ and wi t h m e nt al i l l ne sse s are dan gerou s ev en p a r ty i ng c a me t o a n a b r u p t h al t . and i nc o m p e t e nt . We k no w t his to be We watc he d a s ma j o r e v e n t s f o r 20 20 fal se as t he re are m any ‘hi gh fu n ction like C ar ni va l i n J a ma i c a a n d C ro p Ov e r i ng’ p e rso ns w ho l i v e w i t h m en tal illin Barb a do s w e re c a n c e l l e d a n d b ec am e ne sse s suc h as De p re ssi o n and An xiety f a m iliar w i th the c o n c e p t o f s o c i a l di s- Di so rde r.” t a ncin g. Whi le w e t e n d t o e mp h a s i se t he ph y s i c a l na tu re o f l i f e t h a t h a s COV I D-19 has b rought i nt o q uestion drastica l l y c ha ng e d , w e c a n n o l o n ge r t he i de a o f m e nt al he al t h and welldistan c e o ur s e lv e s f ro m d i s c u s s i n g t he ne ss, as i t t o ok a t o l l on o ur men tal im pact o n o ur me n t a l h e a l t h . st at e m o re t han we m ay hav e realized.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

Weeks tur ne d to mo n t h s a t h o me , f am ilies sp e nt 2 4 ho u r s a d a y t o g e t h e r rather t ha n a fe w h o u r s a n d t h e s oc i al u nwind tha t w e al l l o o k f o r w a r d t o w as s t ri pp ed a w a y. A p p o i n t me n t s f o r h a i r an d nai ls w e re n o mo re , s o me f a mi l i e s dreaded be i ng w i t h o u t re l a t i v e s w h o are on t he fro ntl i n e a n d g ro c e r y s hop p ing wa s a l pha b e t i z e d . W h e n y o u l ook at th e f ull pi c ture , a re y o u me n t a l l y well? As a you ng pe r s on , I f e e l t h e me n t al h ealth e ffe c ts th a t C O V I D - 19 h a s brou g h t a nd I ’m n o t t h e o n l y on e . I’m gr a te ful t h a t t h e conversa ti o n i s b e i n g continue d a nd th e s t rug g le s w e fa c e a re n o lon ge r b e i ng t r i v ialised. F ur the r mo re , Brooks s a i d tha t ”p erson s a ge s 1 8 - 25 f a ce th e m o s t m e n t a l h ealth c ha ll e nge s t o date” It i s m o re t h a n s t re ss w e fe e l a n d we are no t b e i ng d r a m a tic; the s i tua ti o n i s v e r y real. Sh e l i s te d D e p re s s i o n , Schiz ophre ni a a n d A n x i e t y Disorder s a s m o s t p re v a l e n t . As a u ni ve r s i ty st u d e n t f i n a l is in g m y d e gre e , e v e r y t h i n g s eemed to ha ppe n s o f a s t wh en CO VI D- 1 9 w a s d e t e c t e d in Jam a i c a . I ha d a l o t t o l o o k f o r ward to i n m y f i n a l mo n t h s as a stu de nt be fo re o u r re a l i t y ch a ng ed . Wh en th e fi r s t c a s e w a s a n n o u n c e d , an u nea s y fe e l i ng t o o k o v e r my b o dy wh ich p ro pe l l e d me t o s t o c k u p o n Lysol an d ti s s ue . T h e Ly s o l w a s s o ld ou t at t he c a m pu s s u p e r ma r k e t b y

t he e nd of t he day. Pe rsons b egan to w al k around i n m ask s, st o re employe e s sp ray e d hands wi t h al c ohol before e nt ry, and t he se v e ri t y of COVID- 1 9 con t i nue d t o unfol d. I arm e d m y self with hand sani t i ze r and De t t o l t o combat th e v i rus,l i t t l e di d I k no w t he p aran oia was j ust b e gi nni ng. The p l ane j ourne y ho m e t o Barbados w as a re l i e f aft e r t he Uni v e rsity closed as I woul d b e i n a safe p l ac e in th e c are of m y fam i l y t hat I m i ssed dearly. But i t di dn’t di sp ut e t he fact th at so m e t hi ng w as m i ssi ng; I l onge d fo r a p ro p e r goodbye t o t hi s p i v o t al c h apter of m y l i fe . The fi rst fe w weeks were norm al and I was glad to b e b ac k , ye t I refu sed t o addre ss t he tu rmoil I was fac i ng. I t was b uri e d unde r Netflix, o nl i ne c ourse s, procrast i nat i on and t he illu sion t hat I w as fi ne . Th is didn ’t l ast v e ry l o ng and t he crash w as al m ost as l ong as th e de ni al . I t b e c am e harder to get out of b e d, e asi e r t o ign ore my p ho ne and I o p t e d t o go th rou gh t he e m o t i onal ro l l e rcoaster al o ne . De e p t hought s an d i gnori ng t he ro ot m ak es th em we i gh he av i e r o n y our total st at e o f he al t h. I was no t t he o nl y one st rugg lin g to nav i gat e t he ne w no rm al ; so c ial media radi at e d fe e l i ngs of doub t , l on elin ess and fe ar surroundi ng COV I D-19. We all t ho ught a l i t t l e v ac at i o n w as fin e u n til v ac at i on t urne d t o c urfe w and cu rfew t urne d t o 24-hour l oc k down. You n g p e rso ns w ho l o v e t o b e soc i al fou n d

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

themsel ve s bo xe d u p , c o n s t a n t l y b e i ng a ro un d d i ffe re nt f a mi l y d y n a mi c s f el t u n famili a r a nd a l l w e w a n t e d w a s t o b e sociable . Als o, me nta l he a l t h i s j u s t a s i mp o rta nt as phy s i c a l h e a l t h a n d t a k i n g time to d e a l w i th y o u r t h o u g h t s a n d e motions do e s not me a n t h a t y o u a re c ra zy. It m e a ns th a t y o u a re h u ma n , a nd you re a l i z e h o w c o n s u mi n g i t c a n be t o ha ndle l i f e e v e n t s .C O V I D 19 h as s ure ly m ad e a me s s o f t h i n gs! Young pe o ple fo u n d t h e ms e l v e s g r a sp i ng with ne w tho u g h t s o r o l d o n e s re su rrected dur i ng t h i s d i ff i c u l t t i me . I t ’s m ore tha n no t be i n g a b l e t o p a r t y or h ang out w i th fr i e n d s ; i t ’s t h e u n c e rta inty w e a l l fe e l a b o u t a re a s o f o ur l i v e s tha t w e ha d p l a n n e d f o r a re n ow pla y i ng a w a i t i n g g a me w i t h o ur f ut ures. The s tre ss o f t r a n s i t i o n i n g t o on l i ne c la s s e s , c h a n g i n g p l a n s f o r t he world of w o r k , po s s i b l y l o s i n g o n e ’s j o b s or a n i nc o m e w e re a l l i mp a c t e d b y C O VID-1 9 . I n the Ca r i bb e a n, w e w e re n ’t a l l t a ught to take c a re o f o u r mi n d s f i r s t . I t ’s h ard to e ve n s a y h o w y o u f e e l w i t hout the fear o f j ud ge m e n t b e i n g c a s t . I f C O VID-1 9 ha s ta ug h t u s a n y t h i n g , i t ’s to be mo re o pe n mi n d e d a n d s e n s i t i v e ! I t is oka y to ha ve c o n f u s i n g t h o u g ht s a nd emo ti o ns , bu t i t i s n o t o k a y t o go throug h the m a lo n e . A t t h i s t i me , we a re all t he s a m e b e c a u s e t h e v i r u s i s bigger th a n a ny of u s . Re a c h i n g o u t t o a fam ily m e m b e r, a f r i e n d o r a me n t al h ealth c o ns ulta nt me a n s t h a t y o u w ant to learn ho w to mo v e f o r w a r d f ro m tro ubling tho ught s . Ta k i n g t i me a w ay f rom soc i a l m e d i a me a n s t h a t y o u u n d ersta nd i t i s a t r i g g e r f o r y o u a nd i t ’s bett e r to po w e r o ff .

Cop i ng wi t h a gl ob al p ande m i c does not c o m e w i t h a rul e b o ok , and as y oung p e op l e w e oft e n fe e l t he n eed t o do what our p e e rs are doi ng rath er t han st art work i ng on o urse l v es. Selfc are i s a si m p l e ye t e ffe c t i v e way to st art ; i f y ou ne e d t o e x e rc i se , sleep a l i t t l e m o re o ft e n or dust off an old b o ok t o m ak e y ou fe e l l i k e you rself, t he n do i t . I f you ne e d t o , j our n al you r t ho ught s t o t rac k y our p rogre ss, th en st art w ri t i ng. I f you k now you can n ot do i t al o ne and your t ho ught s are life al t e ri ng, t he re are m any p ro fe ssion al se rv i c e s de di c at e d t o gui di ng an d he l p i ng y ou t o se e t hat t he re is life duri ng and aft e r COV I D-19. Yo u will be o k ay!

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

he C a r i bb e a n M e d i a C o r p o r at i on (CM C) i s t he Cari b b e an re gi o nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier m ultime di a o r ga n i s a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o e x c e l l e nc e i n ne ws, sp o rt s p rodu ct ion and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s e r v i c e s . We al so sp e c i al i ze i n Pri nt and N e w Media, Broadc a s t o n te r re s t r i a l t e l e v i s i o n and radi o st at i o ns, Cab l e TV and Satellite U plin k Di s tr i but i o n a c ro s s t h e C a ri b b e an, t o N o rt h A m e ri c a and t he world. O ur n e tw o r k i nc l u d e s t e r re s t r i a l t el e v i si o n st at i ons i n t he Organi sat i o n of t he Easte r n C a r i b b e a n S t a t e s ( O E CS) and t he wi de r Cari b b e an Co m m unity (C ARICO M) , i nc l u d i n g t h e B a h a ma s,Barb ados, Tri ni dad and Guy ana, and Jamaica . We re a c h a p p ro x i ma t e l y one m i l l i on house hol ds o n c ab l e , and on terrestrial a n a ggre g a t e i n e x c e s s o f 1.5m i l l i on house hol ds. Our c ab l e t e l evision ch an ne l C a r i bVi si o n , i s a 24/7 c a b l e se rv i c e av ai l ab l e i n o v e r 20 Cari b bean territories , the N e w Yo r k t r i -s t a t e a re a and Canada. C aribVi s i o n bro a d c a s t s p r i ma r i l y Engl i sh sp e ak i ng l i fe st y l e , e nt e rt ai nmen t, s ports, ne w s a n d c u r re n t a ff a i r s p ro gram m i ng. C MC is ple a s e d t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h I sl and Si gnat ure s on t hi s e x c i t i ng jou rn ey. Th is co ll a b o r a ti o n w i l l a l l o w I s l a n d Si gnat ure s t o si gni fi c ant l y e x t e nd its m arket re a c h. T h i s p a r t n e r s h i p f a l l s sq uare l y i n l i ne w i t h CM Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s v i si o n to assist i n the de v e l o p me n t a n d e x p osure of re gi onal sm al l b usi ne sse s.

Sp Bo ag lo he gn tt es i e

I NG R E DI E NT S 1 pack of Spaghetti M i n c e d Ga rl i c Salt Pe p p e r O l i ve o i l Canned tomatoes F re s h b a s i l ( c h o p p e d ) F re s h t h ym e G ro u n d b e e f ( m i n c e d ) To m a t o p a s t e 2 t b s p W h i t e w i n e 1/ 2 c u p M i re p o i x ( d i c e d o n i o n , c e l e ry a n d c a rro t s ) White sugar to taste S h re d d e d A s i a g o

E xecu t iv e Che f Ru di M i l l er

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

INS TRUCTIONS F ir stl y,co o k Spag hetti i n s a l t e d w a t e r al l de not e an d add o i l to s e p a ra t e . Sa u tĂŠ garlic an d,m i re po i x i n o l i ve o i l a l o n g w ith mince d beef unti l mea t i s c o o k e d . S e a s o n w ith salt and pepper. D e g l aze t he bo tto m o f the s a u c e p a n w i t h w h i t e w i n e and ad d 2 t ab l e spo o ns o f t o m a t o p a s t e a n d s t i r u n t i l d i sso lve d . A dd canne d to mato es an d le t t h e s a u c e s i m m e r , s t i rr ing oc c asio n al l y unti l i t c om e s t o a b o i l . A d d fre s h b a sil and s ugar,st ir an d si m m er fo r 8 m i n s . W h en sauc e i s f i ni sh ed . P l a t e t h e p a s t a a n d B o l o g n e s e , ga r n i sh wit h As i ag o an d f re s h b a s i l !

M i x o l o g i s t M e l vi n Fo rb e s @m e l l yt he gre at _11 8

I NG R E DI E NT S 1 1/ 2 o z o f Be e fe at e r Gi n 1/ 2 oz o f Swe e t Ve rm o ut h

Sleepless N i g ht s

1/ 2 oz o f Cre m e De Cassi s 2 o z o f Li m e Jui c e 1 1/ 2 o z o f Si m p l e Sy rup 4 Dashe s of A ngost ura Bi t t ers 6 Bl ac k b e rri e s

IN ST RU C TION S

3 p i e c e s of St arfrui t

In a cock ta i l s ha k e r, a d d i n t h re e p i e c e s o f st arfrui t fol l owe d b y si x b l ackberries Po ur in 1 1 / 2 o z s i mp l e s y r u p a n d muddl e t o i nc orp orat e i ngre di e nt s Add in 1 1 / 2 o z of B e e f e a t e r Gi n f o l l owe d b y 1/ 2 of Swe e t Ve rm o ut h and a 1 /2 oz of Creme D e C a s s i s Po ur in 2 o z o f F re s h l y s q u e e z e d l i me j ui c e fol l owe d 4 dashe s of A ngostu ra Arom atic Bi tte r s Fill cock ta i l s ha k e r w i t h i c e , s h a k e and do ub l e st rai n t he c o c k t ai l i nt o a glass f il l e d wi th i c e a n d g a r n i s h w i t h b l a ck b e rry and st arfrui t G a rn ish b l a c k b e r r y a n d s t a r f r u i t DRINK RES PO N SI BLY !

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

Black Lives Matter Written By : Si m o ne E l l i o t t

R a ci sm in 2 0 2 0 “I n this co untr y Am er i c an m ea n s whit e . E v er y bo dy el s e h a s to hy phe n ate.” To n i M o r r ison “R a ce d oe sn’t real l y exi s t f or y o u be c ause i t has n ev er be e n a ba rrie r. Black f o l ks do n ’t h a v e t hat c h oi ce.” Ch imam a nd a N go z i Adi c hi e , A mericana h

sea o f p eop le flo o ds t he stre e ts the U nited S ta te s of Am eri c a , ech oes of “ N o ju s tice. N o p eace!” a re r i ngi n g t h ro u g h t h e a i r, p lacards a nd o the r s i g n s a re w a v i n g , t he year 2 0 2 0 . I t i s a s t h o u g h a s c ene f ro m a hi s to r y bo o k h a s c o me t o l i f e , h o wever hi s to r y i s s i mp l y re p e a t i n g it s e lf. In s uc h a d e v e l o p e d f u t u re wi t h rich techno lo gy, r a c i s m c o n t i n u e s t o

p l ague soc i e t y. A n i ssue m any woul d l i k e t o b e l i e v e o nl y e x i st s wi t hi n t e x t b o ok s and c l assroom l e ssons, has p rov e n t hat i t c o nt i nue s t o c om m and great at t e nt i o n. Those al i v e are p ri v y t o t he opportu ni t y t o wi t ne ss hi st ory unfol d as th ey e x p erien ce w ars, th ey t ho ug h t th eir anc e stors h ad fo ught. T h e c o nv ersation o f c on tin u o us relen tl e ss mu rderi ng of black m e n across t he g lobe h as l ong been on t he tips of o ur ton gu es, b ut cou ld n o l o nge r b e st i fl e d as t he unani mou s Bl ac k v oi c e s sc re am e d t he i r fru strat i on w he n Ge orge Pe rry F l o yd J r., an A fri c an-A m e ri c an m an was k i l l ed by p ol i c e duri ng an arre st i n M i nn eapolis, M i nne so t a o n M ay 25t h, 2020.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

T his was the c a ta l y s t f o r c o l l e c t i v e B lack ou tr a ge to b e p u t i n mo t i o n . Protests thro ughou t A me r i c a a s a resp onse fur the r e l e c t r i f i e d t h e o n g oi ng chaotic a tm o s phe re . W i t h N e w Yo r k b ei ng the e pi c e nt e r o f C o v i d - 19, t h e cit y n ow ha d a not h e r p a n d e mi c o n it s han ds , a nd i ro n i c a l l y o n t h e w o rl d s t ag e, A m e r i c a w a s s e e n a s t h e e p i c e nt er of R a c i s m . A ct ivists , c i vi l i a n s , p o l i t i c i a n s a n d cel e briti e s o f a ll r a c e s u n i t e d i n t h e s t reets, di s re ga r d i n g s o c i a l d i s t a n c e regulatio ns to a d v o c a t e f o r a mo re ra dical c a us e ; the i n j u s t i c e s f a c e d b y t h e Blac k c o m m u n i t y. T he conve r s a ti o n a b o u t r a c i s m i s piv otal to de ve l o p me n t o f f u t u re g e ne ra t ions b e c a us e of t h e l i v e s a ff e c t e d b y b o th th e b e ne fi ts a n d d i s a d v a n t a g es. B lack p e o ple a re t h e b a c k b o n e o f , h av e b uilt an d c o nti nu e t o b u i l d a n a t i o n w hich b la ta ntl y d i s re s p e c t s a n d i g n ore s righ ts f o r e qua l i t y. Pe o p l e o f c o l o u r f ight f or the i r r i g h t s i n s i t u a t i o n s as s imple a s a n a dd re s s , w h e n i t f o c u se d o n scho o l a ppl i c a t i o n s , t h e y h a v e b ee n su b j e c te d t o d i s c r i mi n a t i o n a t t he s o un d o f the i r name , e v e n b e f o re t he y meet. “ Although b i o l o gi c a l l y me a n i n g l e s s w hen appl i e d to h u ma n s – p h y s i c a l di ff erences s uc h a s s k i n c o l o r h a v e n o natural a s s o c i a ti o n w i t h g ro u p d i ff e rences in a b i l i ty o r b e h a v i o r – r a c e ne v ert h eless ha s tre me n d o u s s i g n i f i c a nc e in struc tur i ng s o c i a l re a l i t y. I n d e e d , his torica l va r i a ti o n i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n a n d use o f the te r m p ro v i d e s a c a se i n poin t”.- Thi s e xc e r p t w a s t a k e n f ro m R a cism, So c i o lo gy o f b y M a t t h e w Cl ai r, Harvard U ni ve r s i t y, C a mb r i d g e , M A , USA J eff rey S D e ni s , M c M a s t e r Un i v e r s i t y, Hamilton, O N , C a n a d a

I f we de l v e de e p e r, w e re al i ze racism i s a soc i al c onst ruc t c re at e d by oppresso rs t o se p arat e and c ont ro l . Man y sc hol arl y art i c l e s hav e c o nfi rmed th e o nl y b arri e r b e t we e n al l hum an s is p hysi c al ap p e aranc e , t hat o f skin , h air e t c ., t hus m ak i ng no ne m ore su peri or t han t he o t he r. The re fore , race an d rac i sm are m ani p ul at i o n st rat egies to c o nt i nue t he o p p re ssi on o f p e ople for o t he rs t o p ro sp e r. Se gre gat i on was th e t ool o f rac i sm ; i t o ffe re d Cauc asian s o p p ort uni t i e s whi l e i t suffo c ated black people.

What is #BlackLivesMatter The Bl ac k Li v e s M at t e r o rgani zation b e c am e a ne w age re v ol ut i onary cau se i n t he fi ght for j ust i c e for b l ack people. I t w as founde d b y t w o b l ac k women in 2013 w ho we re fe d up wi t h t he callou sne ss of t hose i n p owe r’s de c i sion s on p uni shm e nt for t hose who k i l led Black p e o p l e . I t was t he out c ry of p ain ed b l ac k fam i l i e s t i re d o f l o si ng loved o ne s t o p ure hat e and w i l l . “ # Bl ac k Li v e sM at t e r w as fo unded in 2 0 1 3 i n re sp onse t o t he ac q ui t t al o f Trayvon M art i n’s m urde re r. Bl ac k Li v e s Matter Foundat i on, I nc i s a gl ob al o rgan izat i o n i n t he US, UK, and Canada, wh ose m i ssi on i s t o e radi c at e whi t e su premac y and b ui l d l o c al p o we r t o in terven e i n v i o l e nc e i nfl i c t e d o n Bl ac k commu ni t i e s b y t he st at e and v i gi l antes. By c o m b at i ng and c o unt e ri ng ac t s of viol e nc e , c re at i ng sp ac e for Bl ac k imagi nat i o n and i nno v at i o n, and c en teri ng Bl ac k j o y, we are w i nni ng immedi at e i m p rov e m e nt s i n our l i v es. # Bl ac k Li v e sM at t e r we b si t e The ab surdi t y of hav i ng t o c reate organi zat i ons i n 2020 fo r a si ngul ar grou p o f p e op l e w ho “hav e b e e n l i b ertated”

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

f rom p re vi o us s i m i l a r a c t s s h o u l d be a marke r tha t i nst i t u t i o n s a n d l e g i sl a t i ons i n s o c i e ty a re f u n d a me n t a l l y b roken.

e v e ryday l i v i ng w hi c h c o nt i nue t o ham p e r t he de v e l op men t of b l ac k c om m uni t i e s, organi zat i on s an d house hol ds.

T here co nti nue s t o b e a c y c l e o f r a ci al d is advanta ge s th ro u g h t i me d u e t o un c h an gi ng le gi sl a t i o n , l a w s a n d b eliefs. T he B l a c k L i v e s M a t t e r o r g anization i s a s a fe s p a c e , c re a t e d f or b l a ck pe o pl e b y b l a c k p e o p l e t o l i be ra t e blac k pe o ple a n d g i v e t h e m a v o i c e in socie ty. T he i r v a l u e s o n i n c l u s i o n provides a s a fe ty n e t f o r t h o s e w h o are d ou bly d i s a d va nt ag ed i.e , be i ng B lack and to a f u rther e x te ns io n Bla c k a nd f emale/ bl a c k a nd t ransg en d e r o r qu e er p e o ple , w h o a re at a gre a te r d is advanta ge b ec ause the y ha v e b ee n ev e n m o re removed fro m t h e h ier a rc hy o f resp ect.

W i t h ov e r fo ur hundre d y e ars of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; in feri ori t y c ondi t i oni ngâ&#x20AC;? , i t has b een diffic ul t for b l ac k p e o p l e t o e x i st in society and t he y are al m o st i nv i si b l e with th e e x c e p t i o n i n t he p re se nc e o f in ju stice.

History of Racism Regardle s s o f ho w man y de fi ni ti o ns w e read , r a c i s m i s a t i ts co re - the i l l t reatment o r di s crimin at i o n a ga i n s t a g ro u p o f p e o p l e w it h dar k s k i n i . e n o t c a u c a s i a n . R a cism i s a nd ha s b e e n a n i s s u e s i nc e t h e beg i nni ng o f s l a v e r y a n d t h ro u gho ut the 2 1 s t c e nt u r y, t h u s s o c i e t y co ntinue s to b e p l a g u e d w i t h i t s a dverse e ffe c ts . I d e o l o g i e s b a s e d on t h is con s tr uc t i nf l u e n c e t h e o r d e r of

I t w as t he n t hat rac e , a so c i al con st ruc t , w oul d de t e rm i ne t he su periority o f one hum an t o ano t he r b ased simply on t he i r sk i n. Systematic rac i sm c ont i nu es to be t he hi ndranc e of black e l e v at i on i n so ciety, it c ont i nue s t o e xclu de b l ac k p e o p l e from in flu e nt i al p ost s, p olitical sp ac e s and st op th eir e c ono m i c p ro gression . The unj ust l y gain ed p ol i t i c al -e c ono mic p owe r of whi t es from t he b e gi nni ng, th rou gh t he i r do m i nat i on of ot he r rac e s and en slavi ng t he m fo r t heir own e c ono m i c gai n allowed t he m t o hav e th e u pperhand o n t he di strib ut i on o f we al th an d p o we r i n soc i e ty. T h ey c o nt i nue t o suppress b l ac k p e op l e t h rou gh v e ry organi ze d a cts of de l i b e rat e ac t s of sup p o rt i ng g rou ps and o rgani zat i o ns t hat b e ne fi t wh ite p e op l e . A ddi t i onal l y, t he y c ontin u e to p ush t he se p arat i on narrat i v e between ot he r rac e s so as t o c ont i nue to th e hi e rarc hy am o ngst b l ac k s and oth er p e op l e o f c ol o ur. The i r m ost i n flu en t i al t ac t i c i s t o v i l i fy Bl ac k p e ople an d t he i r st anc e s agai nst rac i sm . Th is h as

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

e ffectiv e l y c ha ng e d t h e v i e w o f h o w people w ho a re n o t b l a c k p e rc e i v e t he resistan c e a c ts . P ro t e s t s a n d o t h e r ac t s of resista nc e a re c o u n t e r a c t e d w i t h wh ite b a c k l a s h a n d a re c h e a p e n e d wi t h u n neces s a r y re bu t t l e s . E . g “ B l u e L iv e s M atter”.

Views from the outside Th e con ve r s a ti o n re g a r d i n g r a c i s m and the Blac k L i ve s M a t t e r mo v e me n t h as e x plode d w o r l dwi d e . W h a t b e g a n a s qu i et pro te s ts i n A me r i c a h a s b l o s somed i nto i nte r n a t i o n a l ma rc h e s , with countr i e s s u c h a s F r a n c e a n d e v e n Bu s a n i n Kore a j o i n i n g t h e s t a nc e a gainst s y s te m a t i c r a c i s m.

A m e ri c ans de al wi t h t hat ”. I had t o c orre c t sai d p e rso n of cou rse and re m i nd t he m t hat I do n’t walk around wi t h a Baj an Bl ac k si g n h an gin g o v e r m y he ad and re c e i v e a pass ju st b e c ause I hav e a di ffe re nt ac cen t. All t he y se e i s b l ac k . Sam (Baj an l i v i ng i n A m e ri c a) - “I th in k i t ’s ne c e ssary t o hav e t he se con versat i o ns o ut si de o f t he US, and especially t he Cari b b e an b e c ause e v e ry n ation t hat was affe c t e d b y c ol o ni zation h as a sy st e m of rac i sm , i t j ust l o ok s differen t de p e ndi ng on w he re you go …” Cryst al (Re si di ng i n Barb ados ) “ Si m p l y b e c ause rac i sm i s a global i ssue i t do e s no t j ust e x i st i n th e U.S, i t i s al so p re se nt w i t hi n th e Cari b b e an.”

Th e respo ns e s wo r l d w i d e a re re -a s sura nce th a t w e ha v e a l l i e s w h o s t a n d i n solida r i ty w i th t h e o p p re s s e d o ve r the wor l d. T he s t a n c e i s n o t o n l y a Your experience at respon s e to A m e r i c a , b u t i t a l s o rep protests? resents the fa c t t h a t o t h e r s h a v e re c ogniz ed the s ho r t c o mi n g s i n t h e i r o wn c o un trie s , w i th t h e i r o w n l a w s a n d wi t h * The y b ot h m ade i t c l e ar t hat th ere we re al l rac e s m arc hi ng al o ng side th em them selve s . i nc l udi ng Cauc asi ans, shari ng in th eir b e l i e f for e q ual i t y* B a rbadi a ns a t ho me a n d l i v i n g i n t he U n ited S ta te s s ha re d t h e i r v i e w s o n t he Dane – “Gi v i ng your t i m e and en ergy i s su e. for a c ause t hat ’s b o t h b e ne ficial to Why do I think it’s one se l f and o f far gre at e r i m portan ce necessary for it to be for a p e op l e i s st i m ul at i ng an d it’s conversation outside the b e e n e x t re m e l y p l e asi ng t o see so man y US? ot he rs i n m y age range , younger an d ol de r o ut m ak i ng t he i r v o i c e s h eard. Dan e ( B a j a n l i vi n g i n A me r i c a ) - “The re I hav e b e e n t he re t hrough t he good, h as to b e r he to r i c c o n c e r n i n g t h e si t uand t he b ad t hus far. W he n i t’s been a t ion ou ts i d e the US A b e c a u s e p e o p l e p e ac e ful and w he n i t ’s t urne d violen t, of color a re n’t c o n f i n e d t o t h i s c o unt ry ri sk i ng m y own he al t h and safety. Day a l o ne and ne i the r a re r a c i s t s . ” W h i l e and ni ght , som e t i m e s ye l l i ng, somethis h as a l l b e e n h a p p e n i n g , I ’ v e h ad t i m e s si l e nt , down o n m y k nees, carrya friend fro m ho me s a y t o me , “ I t ’s a i ng si gns, t hrough t he i r b l oc k ades an d g ood ca us e a nd I k n o w y o u ’ re b l a c k m ak i ng i t k nown I di dn’t gi v e a f*@ k bu t rem e m b e r y ou s a B a j a n . Le t t h e ab out t he i r c urfe w. “

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

S am - It w a s be a u t i f u l f e e l i n g t h e co mmon a nge r a n d p a s s i o n a ro u n d m e . Hearin g tho us a nd s s h o u t Ge o r g e F l oy d’s nam e. A nd tho s e w h o w e re n ’t p ro t e st i ng hon ked the i r ho r n s o r c l a p p e d o n t he i r s t oop s i n s o l i da r i t y. I t o n l y g o t s c a ry f or m e w he n the c o p s i n r i o t g e a r w e re o ut an d s o m e o ne b ro k e t h e w i n d o w o f t h e p oli c e s ta ti o n . I s a w t h e m b r i n g t he t ear g as o ut a nd I l e f t .

Why did you participate? Passion or trend? D a n e - “ I ’d be l y i n g t o y o u i f I s a i d i t w a s bec a us e i t’s n o w h e re a k i n t o my l ife’s true pa s s i o n s . R a t h e r, a s I ’ v e mentione d b e fo re , s o me t h i n g s a re greater tha n o ne ’s s e l f , s o i t ’s s i mpl y s o methi ng I b e l i e v e I mu s t d o . M y c i v i c d u ty if y o u w i l l . O w e d t o t h o s e b e f o re me wh o pa i d the u l t i ma t e p r i c e t h a t I may eve n ha ve th e ‘ r i g h t ’ t o s p e a k out a ga inst the w hi te ma n . I h a v e f a mi l y a n d frie nd s , m a n y w h o ’ v e l i v e d t h rough w o r se in ti m e s be f o re o u r s a n d o t h e rs l ike mys e lf, w i th s o mu c h mo re l i f e l e ft t o live.” S am - “S o I ’ve par t i c i p a t e d i n ma n y protests o ve r the y e a r s . . . mo s t l y B LM , L G B T+ pr i de a nd I d i d a n a n t i - S e mi t is m on e o nc e . A n d o v e r t h e y e a r s I ’ v e a lways b e e n vo c a l a b o u t i n e q u a l i t y. I us ed to b e a nno y i n g o n Fa c e b o o k t ryi ng t o educate a nd s p re a d a w a re n e s s but I ca lmed d o w n i n re c e n t y e a r s c u z i t ’s mentally e xha us t i n g S o d e f n o t a t re nd f or m e, pa s s i o n a l l t h e w a y. ”

Do you think there can be real change as a result of protests? D a n e – ”We ll tha t ’s t h e g re a t h o p e ! That o f all thi s m a d ne s s a n d a l l t h e c h ao s, co ncrete c ha nge c o me s t o f r u i t i o n . I ’ m

as p e ssi m i st i c as t he y c om e an d h ave l o ng si nc e gi v e n up o n hum an ity as a who l e b ut i f e v e n I c an b e l i eve far b e t t e r c an b e do ne t he n t hat sen timen t i t se l f i s m o re t han wort h i t s weigh t in gol d.” Sam - “Do I t hi nk re al c hange can hap p e n? De fi ni t e l y! Hi st ory has proven t hat . Tb h [ To b e ho ne st ] , i f b l ack people out he re we re n’t p rot e st i ng i n th e 6 0 s, I woul d no t b e ab l e t o v o t e ri gh t n ow.” Cry st al - ” I do t hi nk t he re i s power in num b e rs and st andi ng t o ge t her con sist e nt l y c an p rov o k e sl i ght c hanges espec i al l y wi t h p e o p l e o f ot he r e t hn icities j o i ni ng t he fi ght , ho we v e r, I t h in k th e re al c hange wi l l t ak e p l ac e b y a variat i on o f ac t i ons.”

Conclusion I n e sse nc e , l i fe w i t h b l ac k sk in is n ot si m p l e and w e are gre at l y re min ded e v e ry day. Lo ss of l i fe for si mply existi ng w hi l e b l ac k i s a sad norm th rou gh o ut t he worl d. Pub l i c re form a n d edu cat i o n o n t he dange rs of t he se practices ne e d t o b e i m p l e m e nt e d i n order to c re at e safe p l ac e for b l ac k l i ves. The m ore t he i ssue i s i gnore d an d re garde d an A m e ri c an p rob l e m th e l onge r ge ne rat i ons w i l l c o nt i nu e to suffe r due t o a l ac k o f uni t y for in ternat i onal c hange . A m e ri c a i s not th e o nl y c ount ry wi t h b l ac k p e op le; th erefo re , t he i ssue i s not A m e ri c an . T h e i ssue i s al l of ours t o b e ar as a global c o m m uni t y.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

Mental Health, COVID, Kids and Coping This 2020!

Writ t e n B y : K a t r i na Le w i s , M SW, ABA Ther apist,Founder of Adaptiv e Behav iour al

f we g o b a c k to J a n u a r y a n d a s k a nyone ho w the i r y e a r w a s g o i n g t o g o, not o ne i nd i v i d u a l w o u l d b e a bl e to i denti fy the pl a n s t h a t w o u l d h a v e been th ro w n i nto c h a o s , d e s p i t e s o m e h avin g a k no w l e d g e o f t h e n o v e l C o ro na Virus an d w ha t i t w a s d o i n g t o C h i n a a t th e e nd o f 2 0 19. N o o n e h a d e x p e c ta t i on s o f the tr a v e l re s t r i c t i o n s o r d estruct i o n C O V I D - 19 w o u l d h a v e c ause . However, thi s y e a r h a s h a d i t s e x p eri e nce and the m aj o r i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l s o n this ear th ha s no w l i v e d t h ro u g h t h e i r f irst eve r pa nde m i c !

F i rst l y, c hi l dre n are sp onge s an d usual l y soak up w hat ’s around th em! Usual l y t he y ‘fe e d o ff’ of t he en ergy aro und t he m and what i s go i ng on . Thus, som e p o i nt e rs t o assi st with in t he ho use hol d are as fol l ows:

Mai nt ai ni ng Struc ture!

S o m any t hi ngs hav e c hange d from

t he norm al c y t hat w e use d t o kn ow as hum ans t hat i t c an b e di ffi c ul t to still unde rst and w hat our st ruc t ure will be. Ho we v e r, t hi s i s a gre at way t o en su re t hat we are k e e p i ng up wi t h s ome semb l anc e o f st ruc t ure i n o ur dai ly rou B ut...wh a t do e s i t a l l me a n ? I n s p i t e of t i ne s t o he l p our k i ds c op e with u s seeing m a ny re s t r i c t i o n s b e i n g l i ft e d c hange . M any m o nt hs hav e p a ssed a round the w o r ld , a n d t h i n g s b e g i nni ng si nc e t he fi rst c ase o f COV I D i n some o f our c o unt ri e s and a num b e r of bu sito settle , w e w i ll n o t re t u r n t o w h a t was, bu t the re w i l l b e a n e w n o r mal c y ! ne sse s hav e re o p e ne d, m e ani n g paren ts and c are t ak e rs hav e re t urne d to work. L et ’s disc us s ho w o u r k i d s w i l l c o p e So m e c ase s hav e c o m p l e t e l y disapwith th i s m o vi ng f o r w a r d t o d a y, a n d p e are d or si gni fi c ant l y re duc e d bu t we wh a t h a ppe ne d i n t h e p a s t a n d h o w are no t ful l y ri d o f COV I D y e t so meatheir m e nta l he a l t h c a n b e h e l p e d . sure s are st i l l i n p l ac e . M any cou n t ri e s hav e t ak e n t o onl i ne sc h oolin g

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

a nd even w o r k i ng f ro m h o me s c h e du les. It i s c l e a r t o o u r k i d s t h a t t h i ngs a re very di ffe re nt e v e n i f t h e y a re n ot to t ally u nd e r s ta n d i n g o f w h y. E n s uri ng there are s o m e pl a n s w i t h o u r d a y t o d a y f unc ti o ni ng i n t u r n h e l p w i t h our d a ily str uggle w i t h a s s i s t i n g o u r l i t t l e on e s. S et a tim e ta bl e i f y o u c a n t o h e l p wi t h h ow the da y w i ll r u n : f ro m f e e d i n g s to activi ti e s to k n o w i n g w h e n w e n e e d to log on fo r s c ho o l t i me s . Le t ’s b e rea l, at ti m e s w e w o n ’t a l w a y s f o l l ow this struc ture to t h e e x a c t d e t a i l , but I guarante e ha vi n g a p l a n n e d d a y i s better tha n the m w i t h o u t . T h i s h e l ps k ee p your c hi ld on a s c h e d u le and he l p the m c o p e wit h som e c o ns i st e n c y d espite a ll the c h a n g e s h app ening a nd b e i n g a b l e to be gro und e d . Try to ke e p up w i t h sch eduli ng a s m u c h a s possible , fo r i ns t a n c e , i f there is s c ho o l w o r k t o b e c o mp let e d d a i l y o r c l a s s e s on th e c o m pute r ; I f y o u ’ re n ot alwa y s a va i l a b l e s e e wh o can he lp o ut t o k e e p your kid s up to d a t e . T h i s h elps the m und e r s t a n d that th e re s ti ll a re e v e n t s that will b e ha pp e n i n g a nd it is a w a y of t h e m s e e i n g t h e i r f r ien ds a re s ti ll a ro u n d .

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W HO re p o rt s hav e w ri t t e n and in formed us ab o ut t he hand washi ng, wearin g of m ask s, c hangi ng of m ask s a n d con si st e nt sani t i zi ng, ye t o ur k i ds are n ot p ayi ng c l o se at t e nt i o n t o t he warn in gs l i k e we woul d hav e e x p e c t e d. Advice - b e e x t ra v i gi l ant e v e n t houg h th e re st ri c t i o ns hav e l i ft e d a l i t t l e, it can de fi ni t e l y go a l o ng w ay i n k e epin g you al l safe ! Ge t t i ng a c hi l d t o we ar m ask s espec i al l y unde r t he age of 4 m ay be ab sol ut e l y i m p ossi b l e re al i st ically, b ut i m p ro v i si ng c an he lp th em a gre at de al . W he n y ou can , e nsure t hat t he m ask s look fri e ndl y and e v e n ge t t heir favou ri t e c harac t e r o n i t ! E nsu re you w e ar yours w i t h t he m an d let t he m se e t hat y ou are doin g th e sam e as t he y are . Ki ds are keen m o st o f t he t i m e o nc e a siblin g or p are nt i s doi ng t he same……. b e l i e v e m e t he y ’ re wat ch in g even w he n you do no t re alize!

Try as m uc h as y ou can t o orde r t hi ngs in to re duc e t he go i ng ou t or ge t so m e b ab y si ttin g serv i c e s e v e n i f i t s fam i l y. The y are times t hat t he y j ust ne e d t o go wi t h you , so j ust hav e st uff i n your b ag to keep t he m b usy onc e o ut . I t ’s a great time P repare a s tr uc tu re d a c t i v i t y e a r l y f o r t o haul o ut t he b i g b ag! Tab l e ts, small the sum m e r ti m e f o r c o p i n g ! I t i s c l e ar t o ys or st uffe d ani m al s are a great go that some va c a ti on s , s u mme r c a mp s a nd bea c h o r po o l d a y s ma y n o t h a p p e n t o . E nsure i t ’s m anage ab l e , appeali ng t o your k i d, and ab l e t o c lean with l i ke p rev i o us s umme r s ! Le t y o u r c h il d re n kn o w thi s a n d c o me u p w i t h pl ans som e di si nfe c t ant w i p e s and or spray e asi l y. You w ant t o k e e p t he m bu sy e a rly for s um m e r 2020! onc e t he y ’ re out wi t h so m e t hi n g to

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

a v oid inte re s t i n o t h e r t h i n g s a n d j ust t ho se b e hav i o urs. run ning a ro und t o u c h i n g s t u ff . T h e more the y pa y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i r t oy t he The re wi l l b e t hi ngs do ne di fferen tly, more thi ngs the y d o n ’t t o u c h ! e sp e c i al l y ri ght aft e r som e re strict i o ns are l i ft e d. Bi rt hday s, p lay dates W h e n th e m a s k s n e e d t o b e w o r n , se nand out door ac t i v i t i e s t o nam e a few! s it izing y o ur k i d s ma y b e a g re a t i de a! E nsuri ng your c hi l d k no ws t hat despite Try to cre a te s to r i e s a t h o me u s i n g t he y are al l o we d t o go out doors for t h e ir n a m e to ta l k a b o u t w e a r i n g mask s so m e si m i l ar ac t i v i t i e s, t he y mu st in the d o c to r ’s o ff i c e o r s u p e r ma rst i l l b e c are ful . F urt he rm o re , wash in g ket . Also , a ne a t t r i c k ma y b e t o g i v e hands o ught t o b e re m e m b e red, sn eezs mall re w a r ds o r i n c e n t i v e s f o r w e ari ng i ng and c oughi ng sho ul d b e mon itored masks if i t i s tha t a v e r s e t o y o u r c hi l d. and do no t fo rge t t o t ry t o l i mit bodily Rew ards s uc h a s c a n d y, e x t r a T V t i m e , c o nt ac t as m uc h as p ossi b l e . o r e ven a ve r b a l p r a i s e a l l g o e s a l ong w a y to he lp c o ntro l t h e w a y y o u r chi l d Ne v e r b e c o m e up se t w i t h q ue stion s, rea cts t o tr y i ng n e w t h i n g s . S t a r t by t e ars or anx i e t y …….t al k , t al k , talk! You r a s king the m to w e a r i t a t h o me f o r 30 c hi l dre n m ay b e m o re c uri o us with s ec onds a nd the n p r a i s e t h e m f o r i t , q ue st i ons t han usual o r m ay be scared y o u’ll se e tha t a s t h e t i me i n c re a s e s b e c ause of t he unde rst andi ng of th eir t h e y wil l s e e k to g e t t h a t p r a i s e . . . t rust ne w no rm al . Re m e m b e r t o al ways allow me! t he m a safe sp ac e t o b e he ard . Never ge t up se t wi t h t he m for forge ttin g th e ne w rul e s b e c ause w e are not to scare t he m b ut j ust t o he l p t he m . An ease of t is evi de nt that e v e n w h e n w e a re p assage w i t h c o p i ng i s b e i ng able to do CO VID-1 9 fre e w e w i l l d e f i n i t e l y n o t so at a p ac e t hat i s t he i rs, not via n egret urn t o bus i ne s s a s u s u a l b e c a u se we at i v e l y sc ol di ng t he m as p uni sh men t. w ill alw a y s ha ve a d i ff e re n t mi n d s et . We m ay s ti ll b e mi n d f u l o f o u r c h i l dren g oi ng to the p l a y g ro u n d , h u g g i ng e t ’s b e t rut hful , t hi s m ust be th e th e ir f ri e nd s o r e v e n t a k i n g t h e m i n t he harde st c hange of 2020. We already sup erm a r k e t o r to t h e d o c t o r. hav e so m any t hi ngs t o de al with in ou r day t o day l i fe b ut no w l e t ’s add figLet ou r c hi l dre n k n o w t h e d e t a i l s of uri ng o ut a p ande m i c and al l th at goes th e virus a s a ge a p p ro p r i a t e a s y o u al o ng w i t h i t fi nanc i al l y, e m o tion ally c an . Do no t j us t a s s u me y o u w i l l te l l and p hysi c al l y t o k e e p up w i t h bein g th e m ‘do no t do s o me t h i n g ’ a n d t h e y w ill be fi ne w i th c o mp l y i n g . T h e y hav e he al t hy c oul d de fi ni t e l y add a little e x t ra st re ss. I f y ou’ re e x p e ri en cin g always j us t s li d t h e i r h a n d s a l o n g the t hat st re ss, b e l i e v e y our k i ds are exper ailin g s i n the a i r p o r t , b u s s t a t i o n or ri e nc i ng som e t oo! Don’t forget th e train...w hy w o ul d t h e y e v e n s t o p n ow? worl d as t he y onl y k ne w i t c h an ged a Rem em be r, e duc a t i o n i s t h e b e s t me dgre at de al and t he y had fe w e r years on i cine! Yo u k no w w h a t y o u ’ re f i g h t i ng, t hi s e art h t o hav e e x p e ri e nc e d ch an ge, an d sha r i ng i t w i t h t h e m h e l p s t h e m so t he i r c o p i ng m e c hani sm s a ren ’t as k n o w h o w to a d j u s t t h e i r b e h a v i o u rs good as ye t . an d m os t i m po r ta n t l y, w h y t o c h a n ge

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I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

K ee pin g the s tr u c t u re a s mu c h a s p o ssi b l e de fi ni t e l y e l e v at e s so m e o f th at st ress. I f the y h a v e s c h e d u l e s t o f oc us o n and dai l y ac t i v i t i e s t he y wi ll become m ore se ttl e d i n t h e n e w e n v i ro n ment . M ain tai n he a lth i n t e r n a l l y ! T h e s a me w ay you w oul d hav e p ro v i de d p acked lu nches , a d e qua t e re s t w h e n t h e y ne e de d t o b e up fo r sc ho ol and l i m i ted th e sn acks; tr y to m ai n t a i n a s mu c h a s p ossi b l e . De sp i t e t he y m ay b e ho me more, st i ll h av i ng a b e d t i me i s g re a t a n d e nsuri ng t he y donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ov e rdo on t he i r sn ack i ntake i s go o d . Yo u ma y e v e n w a n t t o t ak e b re ak s fro m t he e l e c t roni c devices a l t hough i t k e e ps t h e m b u s y a n d i n v e st i n b oard gam e s, t he re b y t he y can bu ild skills suc h a s d e c i s i o n ma k i n g , t e a m work and so c i al i zat i on from a si m ple game su c h as m o no po l y o r s n a k e s a n d l a dde rsâ&#x20AC;Ś..b e l i e v e i t ! Despite the c ha n g e , i n t h i s t e c h n o logi c al worl d st i l l k e e p i n c o nt ac t ! Allow ch ild re n and e ve n e n c o u r a g e t h e i n t e rac t i ons o n Sk y p e , Z o om and W hat sA pp video c a lling . C a ll fr i e n d s , g r a n d p a re n t s and e v e n re l at i v e s you m ay hav e v i sited m ore of te n w i th v i d e o c h a t . T h i s he l p s t he m k e e p i n t o uc h wi t h o t he rs so th ey won â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t f e e l a s e ns e o f a b a n d o n me n t and he l p s t he m unde rst and t hat t he ch an ges were n o t to ha r m t h e m b u t k e e p t h e m safe !

Guidance on the National Economic Restarting Plan for the Barbadian context

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COVID -1 9 Re sp o n se :

w ayn e De vo ni sh i s a P ro f e s s o r of M a nag em e nt i n th e D e p a r t me n t o f M a nag em e nt S tud i e s u n d e r t h e Fa c ul t y o f S ocial S c i e nc e s a t t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f t he We s t I nd i e s , C a v e H i l l C a mp u s. P ro fesso r De vo ni sh p o s s e s s e s a B S c. i n P s y c holo gy fro m t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f t he West In di e s ( C a ve H i l l C a mp u s ) w i t h Firs t C las s H o no u r s , a n d M S c a n d P h D in Work a nd O r ga n i s a t i o n a l P s y c h o l o gy f ro m the U ni ve r s i t y o f t h e N o t t i n g h am ( U nited K i ngd o m ) w i t h D i s t i n c t i o n .

is m a i n re s e a rc h i n t e re s t s i n c l u d e o rganisa ti o na l b e h a v i o u r a n d p s y c h o l o gy, wor k - re l a te d s t re s s , h e a l t h a n d w el lness , hum a n re s o u rc e ma n a g e me nt , a n d stra te gi c pla n n i n g . H e h a s o v e r 3 0 schola r ly j o ur n a l p u b l i c a t i o n s i n t he s a m e are a s a bo ve a n d h a s c o mp l e t ed a t least 1 0 0 o r ga n i s a t i o n a l a n d i n d ust ry-level re s e a rc h p ro j e c t s , c o n s u l t ancies an d te c hni c a l re p o r t s c o v e r i n g a ra n ge of m a na ge me n t i s s u e s i n c l u d ing jo b satisfa c ti o n, e mp l o y e e e n g a g e me nt , employe e pe r fo r ma n c e a n d p ro d u c t i v i t y,

t rai ni ng and de v e l op m e nt , se rvice q ual i t y and c ust o m e r sat i sfac tion , strat e gi c p l anni ng and m anage m e nt, an d work p l ac e w e l l ne ss.

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e c e nt l y, t he Pri m e M i ni st e r i nfo rm e d t he p ub l i c on t he c ou n t ryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e c o no m i c re o p e ni ng st rate gy and o ut l i ne d t he v ari o us ph ases o f re st art i ng so c i al and e c o nomic ac t i v i t y. I st ro ngl y c om m e nd th e

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

G overnm e nt fo r a t t e mp t i n g a s t r a t egy that bala nc e s , o n a t i g h t ro p e , t h e pu b lic h e a l th r i s k s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a rushed re s ta r ti n g p ro c e s s a n d t h e socio-ec o no m i c r i s k s o f a n u n n e c e ssarily pro lo nge d n a t i o n a l s h u t d o w n . W ith th i s s tr a te gy i n mi n d , I h a v e m ade a fe w c o ntr i b u t i o n s f o r e c o n om ic re s ta r ti ng

C o nst a nt t e st i n g a n d C o mm unic a t i o n

he hi ghe s t pr i o r i t y s h o u l d b e co ntin ua l l y r a m pi n g u p t e s t i n g t o ca ptu re a s y m pto ma t i c c a s e s i n t h e pop ul a ti o n s i n c e h a v i n g a better und e r s tan d i n g o f t h e s t ate of the na ti o n a l i n f e c t i o n ra t e is vi ta l b e fo re a d v a n c i n g t o g reat e r s ta ge s o f e c o n o mi c rec overy (o r re o p e n i n g ).

w i t h w hi c h t he y ne e d t o c om ply. A ddi t i o nal l y t he re shoul d b e a polici ng m e c hani sm i n p l ac e t o m on itor and e nsure l e v e l s of c om p l i ance ac ross se c t o rs. So m e c o unt ri es th at hav e j um p st art e d t he i r e c o nomy hav e i ssue d o p e rat i ng gui de l in es an d safe t y p ro t o c ol s t o al l organi sation s. A s wi t h Be l gi um and F ranc e , I reco m m e nd t hat Barb ados and t h e rest o f t he Cari b b e an ut i l i se se c t or- spec i fi c gui de l i ne s and p rot o c ol s for th e p hase d re o p e ni ng o f t he i r e c on omy t hat are fashi o ne d t o ai d e nt ities o p e rat i ng i n c e rt ai n uni q ue an d critic al se c t o rs.

o we v e r, I am no t suggestin g t hat e v e ry se c t o r has separate gui de l i ne s and p ro t o c ols bu t an e x am i nat i on shoul d b e u n dert ak e n t o de t e rm i ne t hose sectors and/ or c l ust e rs o f e m p l oyers an d o p e rat o rs t hat m i ght re q u ire m ore sp e c i fi c gui danc e i n th eir o wn re op e ni ng ac t i v i t i e s amid COV I D-19.

e als o ne e d t o b e c e r t a i n t h a t t here is a n a d e qu a t e s u p p l y o f m e dical re s o urc e s a n d h e a l t h c a re eq u ipme nt (e . g. p e r s o n a l p ro t e c t i v e eq u ipme nt, ve nti l a t o r s ) i n c a s e o f res u rg en c e o r s e c o n d w a v e o f C o v i d 1 9 . Cons ta nt i nfo r ma t i o n a l u p d a t e s (n umbe r o f pe r s o n s t e s t e d v e r s u s t ests p e r fo r m e d; c o n f i r me d c a s e s , recoveri e s , e tc ) o n t h e s t a t e o f t h e ou tbreak a nd c o n d i t i o n s o f t h o s e who t ested p o s i ti ve sh o u l d c o n t i n u e .

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ll bus i ne s s e s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s t hat are pre pa r i n g t o re s t a r t t h e i r op eratio ns s ho ul d h a v e t h e n e c e s s ary g ui d e l i ne s a n d o t h e r p ro t o c o l s

Eve ryo ne mus t pull t he i r w e i ght

t i s e sse nt i al t hat p ri v at e sector e m p l o ye rs (and l ab o ur uni ons) seek t o p ul l t he i r we i ght i n e nsuri n g th at t he i r b usi ne sse s and work e rs h ave t he ne e de d re so urc e s and support sy st e m s i n re b ui l di ng t he i r o perat i o ns ac ross t he wi de r e c o nomic se c t ors. F urt he rm o re , re gul ar an d p roduc t i v e c onsul t at i ons and discu ssi ons am ong t he So c i al Part ners are a ne c e ssary i ngre di e nt t o success in t hi s e nt i re p ro c e ss.

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

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ore o ve r, the re i s a c a l l f o r a c o nt inuous pro gr a m m e o f c o mmu n i c a t io n wit h the pub l i c o n t h e n e e d f o r s t r ict ad he re nc e t o h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y guidelin e s a s the y g o a b o u t t h e i r bu sines s a c ro s s t h e c o u n t r y – s i n c e reopen i ng a nd th e e a s i n g o f s o c i a l an d eco no m i c re s t r i c t i o n s s h o u l d no t s u gg est ‘ b us i ne s s a s u s u a l ’ . H e n c e, law enfo rc e m e nt o ff i c e r s a n d o p e r at o r s of c o m m e rc i a l a n d n o n -c o mmercial en ti ti e s s ho u l d p l a y t h e i r ro l e i n f o sterin g a nd e n s u r i n g c o mp l i a n c e f rom th e pub l i c a n d t h e i r v i s i t i n g cu stom e r s .

Sys te m in p l a c e f o r p oss ible re g re ssi o n

h e ec o no m i c re s t a r t i n g p l a n s h o ul d be suff i c i e ntl y fl e x i b l e a n d a d a p t i ve t o allow the G o ve r n me n t t o ‘ re v e r t ’ t o earli e r pha s e s o r s t a t e s o f e me rgency pro to c o l s ( e . g . l o c k d o w n s o r exten de d c ur fe w s ) . H e n c e , c o n t i n gency pla ns (w i t h s u p p o r t i n g g u i d an c e on the ne c e s s a r y a c t i o n s ) s h o uld a lre a d y b e i n p l a c e i f t h e re i s clear ev i d e nc e o f w i d e s p re a d f l o u t ing of the g ui de li ne s a n d p ro t o c o l s a n d / or incre a s i ng r a t e s o f i n f e c t i o n w i thi n t he countr y.

As s i s t t ho s e me m ber s that c an he l p s ti mul ate the e c o no my

ddi t i onal l y, sup p o rt i ng t he most v ul ne rab l e and hi gh-ri sk gro u ps in t he p o p ul at i on i s a ne c e ssi t y amid t hi s p ande m i c . I am c ont e nt e d th at t he Go v e rnm e nt has i nc orp orated th e ne e ds and i nt e re st s of t he se grou ps i n t he i r soc i o -e c o no m i c p l ann in g e ffort s so t hat t he se i ndi v i du als will b e p rot e c t e d and c o nt i nue t o receive t he ne e de d c are and re so urc es, even duri ng t he graduat i ng p hase s of econom i c re o p e ni ng i n t he c o untry.

t i s c ri t i c al t hat t he di v e rse n eeds of t he m o st v ul ne rab l e are p rope rl y c at e re d t o and sat i sfi e d an d th at t he i r unne c e ssary e x p osure t o th e wi de r c o m m uni t y and o ut si de pu blic sp ac e s i s l i m i t e d, as t ho se wh o are t he he al t hi e st and safe st i n th e c ount ry re t urn t o work t o re a ctivate t he e c ono m y. I t i s al so i m p ortan t t hat t he re i s so m e sup p ort and assist anc e gi v e n t o t he l at t e r c at e gory in b al anc i ng t he i r c hi l d c are re spon sib i l i t i e s t hat m i ght b e affe c t e d sin ce sc ho ol s w i l l re m ai n c l ose d du rin g th e i ni t i al p e ri o d.

Re t rai n o r re purpose di s pl ac e d w o rk e rs

l t i m at e l y, e ffo rt s t o sup p ort th ose work e rs who we re di sp l ac e d a n d

I s l a n d S i g n at u r e s | t h e Q UA R A N T I N E E D I T I O N

wh ose i nc o m e s o u rc e s w e re a d v e r se l y affe c t e d fro m t he se c t ors m o st i mpacted by th e p a nde m i c a re c r i t i c a l t o a l l o wi ng t he m t o e ffe c t i v e l y re b o und upon a sof t res ta r t a nd f u l l y re c o v e r i n t h e m e di um t o l o ng t e rm . The se e ffo rt s wou ld a l so g o a l o ng wa y i n s u p p o r t i n g and re v i v i ng ‘l o st and dam age d’ se c t ors of the econo m y. Fo r i n s t a n c e , u s i n g t h i s t i m e t o re sk i l l and up sk i l l di sp l aced e mp loye e s a nd o t h e r t y p e s o f w o r ke rs t o suffi c i e nt l y p re p are t he m t o take on a nd func ti o n w i th i n ‘ a l t e re d ’ j o b s and ro l e s w i t hi n t he se c t or i s fundamen tal f or econo m i c re c o v e r y.

ore o ve r, the re s h o u l d b e a n e mp hasi s on t he di v e rsi fi c at i o n o f nat ion al econom y ( a ga i nst i t s h e a v y re l i a n ce on t ouri sm se rv i c e s) and t hat othe r ty pe s o f a d v e r s e l y a ff e ct e d hum an re sourc e s fro m ot her ke y e c o no m i c s e c t o r s ( e . g . manufac t uri ng, agri c ul t ure, an d c re a ti v e i n d u s t r i e s a s w el l as t he m i c ro , sm al l an d m ed i um - s i z e d a n d e n t re p re n e u ri al se c t o rs) hav e t he n ec e s s a r y s k i l l s , k n o w l e d g e , a b i l i t i e s and at t i t ude s t o effec ti ve l y fun c t i o n i n a n e w l y di v e rsi fi e d e c o no m i c s t r uctu re w hi c h i s l i k e l y t o e me r g e i n t he m e di um t o long ter m .

oweve r, I a m s t i l l c o n v i n c e d t h at t ouri sm and ho sp i t ality, alb e i t hi gh l y t e n u o u s a n d v ul ne rab l e i n nat ure , is a ver y re s i l i e n t s e c t o r t h a t i s l i k e l y t o reb ound i n the n o t t o o d i s t a n t f u t ure ( especia ll y w he n t h e ‘ s mo k e o f t h i s pan dem i c c l e a r s ) . H e n c e , w e s h o u ld not disc a r d thi s a s s e t j u s t y e t .

STAYIN G IN VI S I B LE WI LL D O NOT H IN G FO R YO U R B U S I N E SS Wr i t t e n B y : D ebbie-Ann J ollie M B A, B Sc , B A Marketin g S tr a te gi s t & B u s i n e s s D e ve l o p m e nt

We live i n un prec edented time s ! We live i n a di gita l worl d!

s th e C O V I D- 1 9 p a n d e mi c c o n t i n ues to re s ha pe th e w a y i n w h i c h w e w o r k and c o m m un i c a t e , i t h a s b e c om e o nly m ore e vi de n t t h a t i f y o u w a n t t o grow your b us i ne s s , y o u n e e d t o h av e a d igi tal fo o tpr i nt. T he con c e pt o f a s t a n d -a l o n e B r i c k - andmortar f i r m i s c ha n g i n g . T h i s b u s i n e ss model h a s to e vo l v e f o r mo s t , i f n o t a ll compa ni e s , to o n e t h a t i n c l u d e s an o nlin e p re s e nc e , a s w e l l a s b e e f i n g up ex isting m a r k e ti n g e ff o r t s w i t h mo de rn d igi tal s tr a te gi e s . B u il ding y o ur b us i n e s s i n 2020 a n d b eyond re qui re s e x t r a e ff o r t t o s t a n d o ut f rom the c ro w d . I t re q u i re s d e ve l o ping a po s i ti o ni n g s t r a t e g y a n d u nde rs t an ding ho w to u s e s o c i a l me d i a ; to do s o c an a c tua l l y b e a t r u l y e ff e c t i v e t ool .

So why t he ne e d fo r soc i al m edia an d ge t t i ng onl i ne ? You c anno t afford t o i gnore t h e power of soc i al m e di a; w hi l e i t s p ri mary u se was on so c i al i zat i on, t hi s has evolved and i t has a huge i nfl ue nc e i n th e bu sine ss w orl d. Li t e ral l y, t he re are b i l l i ons o f u sers onl i ne . I n 2019, t he re w e re 4.38 billion i nt e rne t use rs aro und t he gl o be, u p to no w 4.65 b i l l i on i n M ay 2020. The m o st c o m m on di gi t al p l at f orms are Googl e , Fac e b ook , Yo uTub e , I nstagram, Li nk e di n, and Twi t t e r. The p opu larity of t he se p l at form s m e ans t he w i d est au die nc e fo r your b rand and t he bu sin ess you re p re se nt . So he re are so m e sm art w ays to u se soc i al m e di a t o b ui l d and gro w you r b usi ne ss:

1. Make

it sp ecial (digitally)

ve n i f y o u t h i n k y o u a re i n n o v at i v e , t he re are st i l l o t he r c om p ani es offerin g p rodu ct s o r s e r vi c e s t h a t c a n b e p e rc e i v e d as sub st i t ut e s t o your b rand h en ce YO U R co m pe ti ti o n ! It i s im po r ta nt th e re f o re , t o p u t o ut re gul ar c o nt e nt on v ari o us so c i al platforms s o you b e c o m e v i s i b l e t o y o u r t a r ge t audi e nc e .Thi s m e ans t hat y ou w i l l h ave to u s e soci a l m e d i a t o h e l p y o u d i s t i ngui sh y ourse l f fro m t he re st i n t he in du stry. C ustome r s ne e d t o k n o w w h y t h e y sho ul d c ho ose you and i f t he re i s anyth in g s p ecial the y ge t f ro m y o u r p ro d u c t . M a ke sure y o ur sp e c i a l s k i l l s , p ro duc t s or se rv i c e s are hi ghl i ght e d on you r social m e dia p ro fi le . I n o t h e r w o r d s , f i n d so m e t hi ng uni q ue ab o ut you, your produ cts an d your c o m pa n y a n d ma k e t h o s e t hi ngs t he fo c al p o i nt o n y our p rofi le. Additiona l l y, i nc l u d e a re a s o f i n t e re st t o i nc re ase y our c hanc e s o f b e i ng feat ured on the s e a rc h re s u l t s . O b v i o u sl y, your t rai t s sho ul d m at c h t he i nterests an d pre fe re nc e s o f y o u r t a r g e t a u d i e nc e .

2. Consistency S

oci a l m e d i a p re s e n c e h a s e n o r m o us b e ne fi t s t o your b usi ne ss and you r bran d; h o w e ve r, y o u n e e d t o i n t e r ac t w i t h y our audi e nc e re gul arl y. Wh en esta b l i s hi n g a p e r s o n a l o r c orp orat e b rand, y ou hav e t o p ost c o nten t freq u e n tly, b ut do n o t g o o v e r b o a r d ! Fo r your b usi ne ss, y ou c an sc he dul e specific days of the w e e k t o p o s t o n y o u r p re fe rre d so c i al m e di a p l at form s. Also, ma k e s ure y o u re s p o n d t o a l l re ac t i o ns and c om m e nt s fro m y our followers, as s o o n a s p o s s i b l e . S c h e d u l e t i m e t o do t hi s as w e l l . C o nsu m e r s s ho ul d f i n d y o u r c o mmuni c at i o n and re sp o nse t i m e re l i ab l e an d efficient. Ho w e ve r, c o n s i s t e n c y i s n o t onl y l i m i t e d t o p ost s and onl i ne i nt eraction s, bu t also the c o l o u r s c h e me s a n d s t y l e o f e ac h o f your p rofi l e s sho ul d be con s is ten t. I t i s e a s y t o l o s e p o t e n t i a l c ust om e rs i f you k e e p c hangi ng t he look an d f ee l.

3 . Using

multiple Channels

o no t s hy a w a y w i t h re t a i n i n g a se nse of ub i q ui t y. I f y ou are goi ng to reach a t a rg et a ud i e nc e , a n d re t a i n re l e v anc e , you al ways ne e d t o b e i n fro nt of th eir f a ces. B e upf ron t a nd c o u r a g e o u s t o c o mm uni c at e wi t h y our e x i st i ng and p ro spective cu s t om er s fre que n t l y o n p l a t f o r ms suc h as YouTub e o r a p e rsonal b l o g. T h is will m e a n y o u w i l l b e f a mi l i a r a c ross m ul t i p l e sp e c t rum s. M ax i m i zi ng you r o rga nisat i o nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre s e n c e re q u i re s s p re adi ng y our b rand on v ari o us p l at fo rms to b ecom e f a m i l i a r. Yo u c a n a d d t o y o u r ac c o unt s and soc i al m e di a hub s as mu ch in formati o n a s po s s i b l e t o re ma i n a v ai l ab l e w he ne v e r ne e de d. W he n y ou r au dien ce asso c i a te s y o u w i t h re l i a b i l i t y, y ou w i l l b e se t t o ac q ui re l oyal c ustomers.

4 . Sharing

of Quality Content

avi ng a m a s s i v e f o l l o w i n g w i l l not b e use ful i f y ou do no t hav e w h at it t a kes to k e e p the m i n t e re s t e d . If y ou are go i ng to re t a i n a ma s s i v e fo l l owi ng, t he re i s no ot he r op t i on th an to p rodu ce qua l i ty c o n t e n t ! T h e p r a c t i cal t hi ng i s, i t w i l l not m at t e r whe t her you a re th e sna z z i e s t o n s o c i a l me d i a . S t ay i ng re l e v ant m e ans av ai l ab i l i t y of relevan t con ten t f o r the us e r s . I f y o u c a n a c hi e v e t hi s on a c o nst ant l e v e l , you c an be con fiden t i n d r i vi n g t h e b u s i n e s s p art i c i p at i on l e v e l s. W h en mo re re a de r s a re i n t e re s t e d i n your c o nt e nt , t he y wi l l re -share t he con ten t w it h th ei r c l o s e fr i e n d s a n d f a mi l y. You k now t hat t hi s i s t he m ost e ffe c tive form o f marke ti ng be c a u s e i t i s c o n v i n c i ng. Shari ng c ont e nt wi t h l ov e d o ne s mean s p as sin g o n tr us te d i n f o r ma t i o n , h e n c e , c onsi st e nt growt h of your b rand an d bu sin es s an d i nc re a s e d s a l e s i n re l e v a n t c i rc l e s. You sh oul d a ls o c o n s i d e r s h a r i n g re put ab l e i nfo rm at i o n from o t he r sources as w ell. Th is w i l l s ho w y o u r h o n e s t y a nd c o nc e rn for t rut h and w hat i s he l pfu l to t he com m uni ty.

5. My

Final Thoughts

f you w i s h to g ro w y o u r b u s i n e ss o nl i ne , y ou ne e d t o e st ab l i sh your self as a ‘t houg h t l e a de r ’ . To d o s o , y o u w i l l ne e d t o m ak e an i m p re ssi on i n y our social circles and c o m m u n i t i e s . Yo u w i l l a l so ne e d t o p art i c i p at e i n c onv e rsat ion s on l ine t ha t s ho w o ff y o u r e x p e r t i s e and k no wl e dge . For it is the pro c e s s o f a t t r a c t i n g t arge t e d audi e nc e s o nl i ne t hat w i l l determin e t he diff e re nc e b e t w e e n a s u c c e s s f u l l y t hri v i ng b usi ne ss – and a fai l e d on e. For th e m o s t pa r t , j u mp i n g o n l i n e , st art i ng a we b si t e and ge t t i ng o n so cial media is f ree, va s t, a nd h a s i mme n s e p o t ent i al t o c onne c t y ou t o a gl o b al audien ce. U s e th e ti ps di s cu s s e d i n t h e p o s t t o st art l e v e ragi ng soc i al m e di a i n growin g your bus i ne s s to d a y.

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